Barb Tofani named senior vice president, Patient Services, and chief nursing officer
Cincinnati Children's has named Barbara Tofani, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, as our new senior vice president, Patient Services, and chief nursing officer (CNO).
Tofani joined Cincinnati Children’s in 2007. Throughout her career, working in both acute and post-acute care settings, she has demonstrated her patient-focused and people-oriented leadership as vice president of Inpatient/Ambulatory Services (2013-2018), assistant vice president of Perioperative Services (2007-2013), and most recently as our interim CNO.
Her drive to improve quality and affordable care has guided her many successes. She has standardized processes and operationalized plans for the benefit of patients and staff at Cincinnati Children’s and in her previous roles as CNO at the Drake Center in Cincinnati, vice president of Patient Care Services at Deaconess Hospital in Cincinnati, and director of Medical/Surgical/Intensive Care Unit Nursing Services at Horizon Hospital System in Greenville, PA — where she began her nursing career on a 40-bed, orthopaedic surgery floor.
“Barb understands how to engage teams and share her wealth of clinical expertise to improve every aspect of care,” said Steve Davis, MD, chief operating officer.
Tofani has assisted in expanding care and access at Cincinnati Children’s neighborhood locations; facilitated training to reduce employee injuries and mitigate patient risk; and supported the successful Magnet designation—an honor only 7 percent of hospitals achieve for nursing excellence.
During Tofani’s distinguished career, she has received Cincinnati Children’s Burton R. Pease Award for Excellence in Nursing Leadership and the College of Mount St. Joseph Leadership in Nursing Award. She serves on the board of trustees at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati and is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives and the Ohio Organization of Nurse Executives.
“Barb’s track record of effectively tackling significant projects head-on, coupled with her consistent ability to forge authentic partnerships within Patient Services and across disciplines are impressive and a great fit for what Cincinnati Children’s needs. We’re excited about the possibilities for the future under her determined and caring leadership,” said Michael Fisher, president and CEO.
Tofani earned her master’s degree in nursing administration and bachelor’s degree in nursing from Edinboro University, PA. More recently, she completed her Nurse Executive Advanced Certification in 2017.
