Dr. Kelly Aldrich is a distinguished nurse executive, innovator, and nurse advocate with over 40 years of healthcare experience. She serves as Professor of Nursing, Informatics and Director of Innovation at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, with a secondary appointment in the Department of Biomedical Informatics. A Fellow of both HIMSS and the American Academy of Nursing, Dr. Aldrich is a Board-Certified Informatics Nurse Specialist.
Dr. Aldrich’s career has been defined by her pioneering contributions to healthcare innovation. During her doctoral work in 2010, she developed a medical device for wireless automation of vital signs capture in medical surgical units, which was implemented across 180 hospitals and established the national standard automating documentation with real-time notifications. As the invited inaugural Chief Nursing Informatics Officer (CNIO) for HCA, one of Dr. Aldrich’s many contributions to the modernization of healthcare through informatics innovation was her leadership in developing a $500 million mobility strategy at HCA. This visionary initiative included strategic leadership and implementation pilots of iPhones to enhance care coordination and nurse communication, significantly advancing the integration of technology in clinical practice. This transformative initiative enhanced nurse communication and streamlined care delivery, positioning HCA at the forefront of healthcare innovation.
An advocate for interoperability and nursing empowerment, Dr. Aldrich, as Chief Clinical Transformation Officer at the Center for Medical Interoperability, created the RN Digital Citizen framework. This initiative built on blockchain incorporated the unique nurse identifier, advancing both nursing practice and interoperability across healthcare systems. This initiative introduced trust platforms and the unique nurse identifier to advance nursing practice and interoperability. At Vanderbilt, her work continues to transform nursing through initiatives in informatics education, immersive virtual reality self-care scenarios for nurses, and AI-driven tools for patient-centered care. The Mindful Immersive Nursing Demonstration (MIND) Lab, which she founded, exemplifies her dedication to leveraging advanced technologies to improve education, practice, and well-being.
Dr. Aldrich earned her Master of Science in Healthcare Systems Leadership and Nursing Informatics, as well as her Doctor of Nursing Practice, from the University of South Florida. A significant contributor to the field, she has authored numerous publications, book chapters, and podcasts and is a sought-after keynote speaker at national conferences. Her legacy as a nurse executive, innovator, and advocate underscores her transformative impact on nursing informatics and healthcare.
