Holly Lorenz
With over 40 years of healthcare leadership and health system operational experience, Holly is a recognized healthcare executive with vast knowledge and expertise. Holly is acclaimed for her innovative strategies, as well as her genuine, authentic voice – one that engages audiences at all levels of leadership through relevant personal accounts and actionable roadmaps to success. Her passion for leadership, engagement, resilience and well-being is obvious in her inspiring presentations.
Most recently, Holly was the Chief Nursing Executive for UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) – a $24 Billion integrated delivery and finance system – with responsibility for establishing and leading the strategic vision for over 20,000 nurses.
In this capacity, Holly was responsible for the executive oversight of a nursing practice operating in more than 40 academic, community, specialty and international hospitals. Her leadership impacted 800 outpatient sites, rehabilitation and long-term care facilities with over 90,000 associates, as well as six diploma schools of nursing, two of which she opened during her last two years of tenure. Additionally, Holly successfully implemented an internal nursing agency within the UPMC Health System, from design to go live in 90 days. During her time as a Chief Nursing Executive, she simultaneously served as the Associate Dean for Clinical Relations at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Nursing.
Holly’s doctoral research was focused on the impact of mindfulness meditation on burnout, absenteeism, and patient satisfaction. Her work with mindfulness meditation has been guided by her mentor and friend, Dr. Barry Kerzin, personal physician to the 14th Dalai Lama.
Holly’s breadth and depth of healthcare experiences offer relevant, inspiring and strategies for all leaders. Her expertise in leadership transformation, employee attraction and growing workforce pipelines, models of care, and patient experience, will provide actionable tactics to inspire change, drive high performing teams, and cultivate an employee-centric culture.
Holly was named by Becker’s Hospital Reviews as one of the top 60 “CNOs of Hospitals and Health Systems to Know” in 2017, 2020 and 2022 and is a Wharton Fellow for Nurse Executives. Additional honors include being named to the 2015 University of Pittsburgh Nursing Honorary Alumni and receiving the Cameos of Caring Life Time Achievement Award for Western Pennsylvania.
Recently retired from her role as Chief Nursing Executive, Holly is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she serves on many influential boards including Family House, Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council and Capella University. Holly is an independent national speaker and contractor speaker with Huron a global business and consulting firm.