Tommye Austin, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC

As senior vice president for patient care systems and chief nurse executive for BJC HealthCare, Tommye Austin is responsible for BJC’s patient care strategy, integrated care management strategy, patient safety platforms, direction of clinical care management system deployment, and supporting the development of BJC’s 8,000 nursing professionals and other allied health professionals.

As BJC’s most senior nursing executive, Austin serves on the BJC executive leadership team to develop and implement initiatives that improve patient outcomes, standardize care, and enhance the effectiveness of the clinical workforce.

Austin has served more than 30 years in the nursing field. Prior to joining BJC in 2022, she was the senior vice president and chief nursing executive for University Health, a health system in San Antonio, Texas. Prior to University Health, she served in several executive nursing roles with the Baptist Health System in San Antonio, Texas; the Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston, Texas; and Kingwood Plaza Hospital in Kingwood, Texas.

Austin received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing, as well as a doctor of philosophy degree, from the University of Texas Czik School of Nursing located in Houston, Texas. She also received an MBA from the University of Phoenix.

Austin is the recipient of several awards and honors, including being named as a 2022, 2020 and 2019 Modern Healthcare 50 Most Influential Clinical Executive, 2022 Beckers 75 Black Healthcare Leaders to Know, and as a 2018 Modern Healthcare Top 10 to Watch Minority Executive. She is a member of several professional societies, has written and received many grants, and has been published in a multitude of professional publications. Austin also loves crafts including sewing, quilting, and machine embroidery. She loves music and released a gospel jazz album entitled My Inheritance.