School
Mary Dixon, DNP, RN, NEA-BC. Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships and Professional Programs, Director of the MSN Complex Healthcare System Administration, joined the faculty of the Conway School of Nursing in 2023. She has extensive experience in healthcare and administration to enrich our graduate program, including serving as a Chief Nursing Officer at three large healthcare systems: Inova Health System, Baylor Scott & White Health, and UVA Health. As a healthcare leader, Dr. Dixon is a tireless advocate for professional development to fully support the vital role nurses play in the health of patients and the community. In past and current roles, Dr. Dixon has worked collaboratively across practice and academia on initiatives that improve healthcare delivery, patient experiences, and interprofessional team member engagement. For example, her mixed methods study and resultant actions in an academic medical center, using a stakeholder team to evaluate a RN-BSN academic progression program, impacted the percentage of BSN-prepared nurses from 61% to 80%. She has also published/presented on topics to improve patient outcomes and to prepare nurses for practice and leadership. As an undergraduate nursing alumnus of The Catholic University of America, Dr. Dixon’s professional practice has been guided by her Catholic faith and education; her vocation remains grounded in her unwavering respect for human life and in service to others, especially the most vulnerable and underserved.
Dr Dixon has received numerous honors and awards, recognizing her 45 years of successive healthcare leadership experience in private and public health systems and academic medical center settings. In Dr. Dixon’s most recent position as the Chief Nursing Officer at the University of Virginia Medical Center, she received the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award from the Daisy Foundation for her nursing leadership and commitment to the alleviation of patient and family suffering, a constant practice focus during her career from her first position as an in-patient hospice nurse. During Dr. Dixon’s thirty-year tenure at the Inova Health System, she became a champion for patient safety and is a legend for the health system on “do no harm”. Dr. Dixon has been called a true “servant leader” by professional colleagues and demonstrates authenticity in nursing and leadership practice.
Dr. Dixon has served as Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Virginia and as affiliate faculty for George Mason University and James Madison University. Dr. Dixon brings joy to developing the next generation of nurse leaders at The Catholic University of America.