Ena Williams PhD, RN, CENP, FAAN

Ena currently holds the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH), a 1541-bed, three-time ANCC Magnet® designated, level I trauma, Academic medical center. She is the first African American CNO appointed at YNHH.

Her career started in Jamaica after graduating from the University Hospital of the West Indies. Migrating to the United States in 1991, she began as a staff nurse at Bronx Lebanon Hospital in New York. Joining Yale New Haven in 1992, she progressed through various leadership roles, reaching the position of Chief Nursing Officer in 2018. Ena played a crucial role in leading the nursing team through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ena has served on numerous local, state, and national boards and is active in her community. Recently nominated to the Board of Commissioners for the Joint Commission and the American Nurses Association Foundation, she is also involved in various educational and diversity initiatives. Ena has received awards for her contributions, including the Hometown Hero Award (2020) and the Trailblazer award (2017).

With degrees from the University Hospital of the West Indies, Western Governors University, Albertus Magnus College, and Walden University, Ena is a published author and a frequent speaker at conferences. She is a graduate of the GE Health Management Nurse Executive Fellowship and is Board certified in Executive Nursing Practice from the American Organization of Nursing Leadership. Ena is a member of prominent nursing organizations and a Lifetime member of the National Black Nurses Association.