NEW YORK — Hospital for Special Surgery said it has appointed Anne Marie McDonald, EdD, RN, FACHE, CPHQ, as Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive, a leadership move the organization said reinforces its focus on growth, innovation, and nursing excellence.
HSS is the nation’s leading academic medical center specializing in musculoskeletal health and has been ranked No. 1 in Orthopedics for 16 consecutive years. The hospital is also the first in New York State, and among fewer than one-half of one percent of hospitals nationwide, to earn Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center six times consecutively.
As HSS continues to expand its clinical footprint and influence, the organization said strengthening enterprise-wide nursing and clinical leadership remains a strategic priority to ensure consistent quality, patient safety, and operational excellence across the system.
“We are confident that under Anne Marie’s leadership, HSS will continue to advance Magnet-level excellence, improve clinical quality and patient-centered outcomes, and drive growth with discipline and distinction,” said Bryan T. Kelly, MD, MBA, President and CEO, and Surgeon-in-Chief Emeritus, at HSS. “Her appointment to this new role reflects our commitment to fostering visionary leadership that strengthens our nursing practice and elevates the patient experience.”
In her role, Dr. McDonald will provide strategic leadership for nursing across all HSS sites and affiliates, with accountability for nursing quality, patient safety, workforce engagement, and the consistent application of HSS standards of care. She will also oversee key clinical support services, including Pharmacy, Respiratory Therapy, and Laboratory Services, with the goal of strengthening system integration, performance management, and the overall patient experience. Dr. McDonald has served as Interim Chief Nursing Executive since September 2025.
“Nursing is the foundation of our success, shaping every aspect of the patient experience and redefining excellence in musculoskeletal care,” said Mary E. Cassai, MPA, RN, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “Our nurses are innovators, advocates, and leaders who set the standard for quality, compassion, and collaboration across the enterprise—ensuring every patient receives care that is exceptional, transformative, and centered on their needs.”
Dr. McDonald is a registered nurse with more than 20 years of experience spanning clinical operations, quality, performance improvement, and regulatory compliance. She has extensive expertise in federal quality programs and accreditation and represents HSS on national advisory groups supporting the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and The Joint Commission. She holds both her master’s degree and doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University, where she also served as adjunct faculty, and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the New York Academy of Medicine.
“HSS is setting the standard for musculoskeletal health, and I am excited to help lead this next chapter of growth and innovation,” Dr. McDonald said. “Together, we will empower our nursing teams, drive advancements in care delivery, and shape the future of health with purpose and impact.”
At HSS, the Chief Nursing Executive leads a team of more than 1,500 specialized nurses across the continuum of care at locations in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Florida. The role includes oversight of nursing quality, patient safety, nurse engagement, physician collaboration, and patient satisfaction. HSS is also a recipient of the Press Ganey Pinnacle of Excellence Award, which is based on patient survey measures including likelihood to recommend, overall rating, and teamwork.
“We are proud of the strides HSS has made in nursing excellence and patient care, and we embrace both the responsibility and the opportunity to continue raising the bar,” said Douglas E. Padgett, MD, Surgeon-in-Chief and Medical Director at HSS. “Anne Marie exemplifies our core values at the highest level, helping us fulfill our purpose of helping every person live the life they love through the power of movement.”
Dr. McDonald’s appointment is effective immediately.
