Heather Norman, ACNA President, named as one of the Top 50 Women Chief Nursing Officers of 2025!

21. Heather Norman
Chief Nursing Officer, Wellpath

Heather Norman is a highly experienced healthcare leader with over 20 years of dedication to the field. She began her career in healthcare as a Combat Medic during her active-duty service in the US Army. Norman currently serves as the Chief Nursing Officer for Wellpath, the premier provider of localized, high-quality, compassionate care to vulnerable patients in challenging clinical environments. She provides executive leadership and strategic direction for nursing services at over 330 facilities in 37 states. 

Norman is passionate about understanding and addressing social determinants of health and advocating for both nurses and patients. As president of the American Correctional Nurses Association, she is a strong advocate for the specialty of correctional nursing and works to advance its professional recognition through research, education, and advocacy. She is currently part of a team collaborating with the American Nurses Association to update the fourth edition of the Scope and Standards of Practice for Correctional Nursing. She has presented at conferences and published research throughout her career. Her passion and overarching goal are to partner with stakeholders to strengthen the quality of nursing care for incarcerated patients and to use her voice to advocate for those who cannot easily be heard on their own. 

Norman earned a Master of Science in Clinical Nurse Leadership from the University of Virginia and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Healthcare Administration from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She holds certifications as a Certified Correctional Healthcare Professional Registered Nurse, Nurse Executive Board Certified, and Clinical Nurse Leader.

Congratulations, Heather on being recognized for your knowledge, skill and expertise as a Correctional Nurse Leader!