Chika Anueyiagu Named Chief Nursing Officer at Cooley Dickinson Hospital
NORTHAMPTON — Cooley Dickinson Hospital announced that Chika Anueyiagu has been selected as chief nursing officer (CNO) at Cooley Dickinson Hospital (CDH), following an extensive search.
As CNO, Anueyiagu will partner with Dr. Sunny Shukla, associate chief medical officer, and the entire CDH team to further advance quality, safety, patient experience, and the practice environment for providers and clinical staff.
A seasoned healthcare champion with more than 20 years of experience in nursing leadership, Anueyiagu most recently served as director of Nursing/Patient Services at Yale New Haven Hospital. An advocate for quality and professional development, she played a key leadership role in advancing her team’s performance in patient satisfaction and quality, reflecting significant reduction in pressure injuries, falls, and length of stay.
Equally dedicated to professional engagement and advancement, Anueyiagu has focused extensively on leadership development, patient experience, employee engagement, quality outcomes, and operational efficiency. She is a published author and has presented her work at both local and national platforms. A passionate mentor, she is dedicated to fostering environments where individuals can thrive and achieve their full potential.
Anueyiagu began her nursing career as a certified nursing assistant, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from the State University of New York, Brooklyn, followed by her doctorate in nursing practice from Fairfield University.
She earned her nurse executive board certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center, where she also served as a content expert. She has completed the American Organization of Nurse Leadership (AONL) director fellowship and received the AONL certification in executive nursing practice. Additionally, she is a certified trainer with the Academy for Communication in Healthcare, having trained more than 1,000 healthcare professionals in relationship-centered and empathic communication.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Anueyiagu is deeply committed to service. She has served as an advisory board and foundation board member for Connecticut State Community College at Norwalk and as a board nominations committee member for AONL. Her humanitarian efforts through the Caring and Helpline Foundation in Nigeria, which provides food, shelter, and medical support to underprivileged residents, earned her a humanitarian award.
“We are delighted that Chika has joined the CDH team to lead nursing and patient care services,” said Kevin Whitney, president and chief operating officer for CDH. “She is an exceptional leader who brings decades of experience and impressive outcomes to this role. We look forward to her leadership and the continued efforts of the entire team to best support our patients, families, and community.”