Dr. Jeffrey N. Doucette named to Modern Healthcare’s 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives list

Press Ganey's Chief Nursing Officer recognized for advancing nursing leadership, workforce excellence, and healthcare performance nationwide

Jeffrey N. Doucette, DNP, RN, FAAN, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Press Ganey, has been named to Modern Healthcare's 2026 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives list.

The annual recognition honors physicians, nurses, and other licensed clinicians who are using their clinical expertise to drive organizational success, improve healthcare delivery, and address some of healthcare's most pressing challenges. Honorees were selected via nomination by Modern Healthcare's editorial team based on their impact on operational, financial, and clinical performance, as well as their broader influence across the healthcare industry.

"I'm deeply honored by this recognition and grateful to the many mentors, colleagues, and nursing leaders who have shaped my career along the way," Doucette said. "Nursing has always been a profession built on compassion, resilience, and a commitment to serving others. I remain optimistic about the future of our profession and inspired by the leaders and frontline teams working every day to strengthen care, support one another, and improve outcomes for the patients and communities they serve."

Doucette is widely recognized for his contributions to nursing leadership, professional practice, and workforce development. At Press Ganey, he leads nursing strategy and thought leadership efforts focused on advancing quality, safety, patient experience, and workforce engagement. He founded the Press Ganey Nursing Center of Excellence and has helped healthcare organizations strengthen nursing excellence through benchmarking, advisory services, and Magnet®-aligned improvement efforts.

He also led the expansion of the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators® (NDNQI®) into ambulatory care settings, broadening access to benchmarking and performance insights for outpatient organizations. Through this work, Doucette has helped healthcare leaders better understand the relationship between nursing practice, workforce stability, and patient outcomes.

"As a fellow clinician, I've always admired Jeff's commitment to strengthening the nursing profession," said Thomas H. Lee, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Press Ganey. "He has helped countless organizations create environments where nurses can thrive, and his influence can be seen in the leaders he has mentored and the standards he has helped shape. I'm grateful to have him as a colleague and pleased to see his contributions recognized."

Prior to joining Press Ganey, Doucette served as the inaugural Vice President of the Magnet Recognition Program® and Pathway to Excellence® Program, where he helped shape global standards for nursing excellence and healthy work environments. His career has consistently focused on elevating nursing leadership as a driver of both clinical and organizational performance.

In addition to his leadership at Press Ganey, Doucette remains active in advancing the profession through service with national nursing organizations, academic contributions, and mentorship of future nurse leaders. He serves as an adjunct associate professor at Old Dominion University and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

Earlier this year, Doucette received the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) Exemplary Leadership Award, which recognizes nurse leaders who have made significant contributions to professional nursing practice, leadership, and the development of others across the field.

About The Company 

Together, Qualtrics and Press Ganey Forsta are the world's leading Experience Management (XM) Platform, helping organizations understand, predict, and improve human outcomes across customer, employee, and patient experiences. By uniting Qualtrics' leadership in Experience Management with Press Ganey Forsta's Human Experience (HX) Platform, the combined company enables organizations to turn experience insights into strategic advantage across healthcare, financial services, hospitality, retail, technology, and other industries worldwide.

Media Contact

[email protected]