Allina Health appoints Dr. D’Andre Carpenter to health care system’s first senior vice president, chief nursing executive role

MINNEAPOLIS (Nov 21, 2023) — Allina Health is pleased to welcome Dr. D’Andre Carpenter as the health system’s new senior vice president, system chief nursing executive. As the highest-level nurse leader for the organization, Carpenter will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies to improve patient satisfaction, operational excellence, and clinical service delivery. Carpenter’s leadership will build upon Allina Health’s strong foundation in nursing workforce development and programs that promote the retention, recruitment, continuing education and development of clinical nurses and support services staff. 

“I am honored to be joining Allina Health in this inaugural role and I am committed to furthering the health system’s mission to provide exceptional care to the community,” said Carpenter. “I am excited to work with nurse leaders across the health care system to build upon the organization’s successes in quality and safety measures, patient care experience and nursing excellence, while continuing to co-create clinical workforce culture focused on the education, development and retention of our nurse professionals.” 

Carpenter’s first day at Allina Health will be Nov. 27. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Carpenter as Allina Health’s first system chief nursing executive,” said Lisa Shannon, Allina Health president and CEO. “His leadership and expertise will help us continue to elevate the voices of our nurses and support staff across the organization. His passion and commitment to equity and inclusion for our employees and patients will support our response to the changing health care environment, and our work to transform how we deliver care to the communities we serve.” 

Carpenter most recently served as senior vice president, chief system nursing officer for Iowa-based UnityPoint Health, where he led enterprise nursing practice and clinical care for the large integrated health delivery system. Under his leadership at UnityPoint, Carpenter established strategies to assure a responsive, flexible, nursing workforce across the entire health care system, while leading a successful nursing strategic plan with workstreams for Nursing Operating Models, Workforce Alignment, Clinical Professional Practice, and Optimal Use of Technology. Carpenter also established the “UPH Nurse Proud” brand to support nursing culture and professional practice standards with foundational focus areas for strength, excellence, leadership, and care.  

Carpenter has held executive nursing leadership, clinical informatics, and data analytics positions at Jefferson Health in Philadelphia, PA, Baylor Scott & White Health in Dallas, TX, and VCU Health System in Richmond, VA. 

He holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, an Executive Master of Science in Information Systems Management and Master of Science in Nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA. He also holds undergraduate degrees in both Computer Science and Nursing.