Jacqueline Ward

Dr. Jackie Ward, DNP, RN, NEA-BC is currently the System Chief Nurse Executive and Senior Vice President for Texas Children’s Hospital. She began her career at Texas Children’s Hospital as a graduate nurse in 1993. Throughout her career, Jackie has held various progressive leadership roles in nursing administration.

Jackie holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Texas Tech University, a Master’s of Science in Nursing with a focus on Health Care Systems Management from Loyola University New Orleans. She holds a Doctorate in Nursing Practice with a focus on executive leadership from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Cisik School of Nursing. She holds an Advanced Board Certification as a Nurse Executive from the American Nurses Credentialing Center and a Healthcare Management graduate certification from the Rice University Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business. Her expanded formal education and certifications augments her knowledge and abilities as a leader in the world’s largest Pediatric and Women’s healthcare organization.

She has received numerous awards including the Texas Nursing Association Top 20 nurse in District 9, the Vannie Cook Foundation’s Community Hero for her groundbreaking work on the opening of the Vannie Cook Clinic in the Rio Grande Valley to provide cancer care for the underserved, the Third Ward Community Cloth Award for her commitment to serving others during the COVID pandemic, Top 25 Multicultural Leaders in Healthcare of Houston Awardee, and the Houston Power 50 National Diversity Council Awardee. Her most humbling award was being named a Legacy Builder Alumni in Action award from her high school alma mater James A Madison Senior High. Jackie is incredibly honored for being named a 2023 Top 30 Influential Woman of Houston.

She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and a mother member in the Missouri City-Sugarland Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated where she holds the Board position of Chapter President. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees for the Good Samaritan Foundation and Casa De Esperanza House of Hope for Children.

Jackie’s passion for consistent nourishment and growth of everyone she meets is consistent in both her professional and personal life as she mentors and pours into individuals seeking to advance in their career.

Jackie is a God-fearing loving wife to Darrin and mother of two, Whitney Alyse and Cody Elijah. She enjoys traveling, serving and spending quality time with her family.