Deb Zimmermann, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN is the Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System.  Deb served in the United States Army Nurse Corps, practiced as a nurse practitioner, and for the past 20 years has served in executive positions in New York and Virginia. Deb was privileged to serve on the ANCC Magnet® Commission for eight years and as chair for two years. She currently represents Region 3 on the Board of the American Organization of Nurse Leaders, co-chairs the national AACN-AONL academic/practice committee, chairs of the AONL Foundation, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

Deb loves her role as Chief Nursing Officer at VCUHS in Richmond. She and her husband Gary have one daughter, Danielle and two beautiful grandchildren.