Meet Our New Chief Nursing Officer: A Leader's Story
Long before she stepped into executive leadership, Cicely "CC" Brooks, DNP-ENL, MSN, RN, NEBC, FAB, understood the stakes of healthcare. She was young when her grandmother died, and her family's difficult experience left a lasting impression.
"Growing up, we didn't really go to the doctor. That just wasn’t part of our culture," Dr. Brooks says. "My grandmother also didn't have the financial means to see physicians or specialists, so she largely self-treated using the old-school remedies our grandparents relied on when access to healthcare was limited."
That early lesson now informs her work as senior vice president and chief nursing officer at Children's National.
In hindsight, Dr. Brooks can see how much might have been prevented, and her realization became a turning point. She set out to help others navigate the healthcare system and show what preventative care could look like.
Dr. Brooks received her bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of North Florida and started her career as an obstetrics nurse in Jacksonville, Florida. She then earned her master's degree in nursing administration from Jacksonville University and her doctorate in executive nurse leadership from Baylor University.
Hear Nurses Lead
Drs. CC Brooks and Christine Riley recently joined our podcast, The Lead in Peds, hosted by Nathan Kuppermann, MD, MPH, chief academic officer. Listen to learn more about how nurses are shaping the future of pediatric medicine.
Dr. Brooks' conviction only deepened years later as a parent when all three of her children required care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) shortly after birth.
Although she spent her early career working closely with pediatric and neonatal teams, nothing fully prepared her to navigate the NICU as a parent. "When it happens, having healthcare providers, especially nurses, who are empathetic, communicative and supportive makes all the difference," Dr. Brooks says.
She sees those values at Children's National. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience, Dr. Brooks wants to continue the mission she's always held dear: helping families feel safe and welcome during their most vulnerable moments.
No one wakes up planning to bring their child to Children's National. It's important that we create an environment of care ― not just for patients and families, but for each other.
- Dr. Cicely "CC" Brooks
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