Most Influential Chief Nursing Officers Making an Impact in 2025
In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, strong leadership is essential to drive meaningful change and ensure high-quality patient care. Among the distinguished figures leading the charge is Katherine Abraham Evans, a Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) whose unwavering dedication and transformative vision have cemented her as one of the most influential nursing leaders in 2025.
For Roula Youssef Halabi, Senior Vice President of Global Fertility Services at CooperSurgical, the pursuit of excellence in healthcare has been a lifelong mission.
Born and raised in Lebanon, her formative years were influenced by a culture that valued resilience, adaptability, and community—qualities that would later define her leadership style. Roula’s journey from a trained midwife to leadership roles in the fertility industry is not only a testament to her unwavering commitment to the health of women, babies, and families – the very mission she strives toward at CooperSurgical – but her dedication to excellence in everything she does.
CooperSurgical is a fertility & women’s health company rooted in a dedication to upholding the highest standards and reaching new heights as a leader in the industry: a guiding principle with which Roula found perfect harmony. Since 2023, she has led the global fertility services business, placing paramount importance on excellent quality care for customers and their patients, around the world.
Read on for excerpts from our interview with Roula where she brings to light how she inspires excellence in her teams through passionate leadership and empowering others.
The Path to Leadership
My journey began in the delivery rooms, where I witnessed firsthand the complexities and joys of bringing new life into the world. My education and training as a midwife gave me a deep understanding of the human side of healthcare. However, I felt a pull toward broader challenges in leadership, particularly in the domain of infertility—a field often fraught with emotional and physical hurdles for patients.
I’ve always been driven by the desire to create meaningful change and impact. Transitioning from midwifery to the infertility world having the opportunity to see the business from different lenses, the lens of a patient and the lens of a customer where I was the COO for the largest fertility network in the Middle East, and the lens of a supplier allowed me to address not only the clinical aspects, but also the emotional and social dynamics, of building families, along with the innovation and advanced technology that ensure access to care and improve outcomes.
After a few years in the field, I transitioned into business, combining clinical expertise with strategic acumen. I now bring 24 years of global healthcare expertise and leadership experience to my role, including managing a quarter-billion-dollar P&L and leading M&A endeavors. My journey has also been shaped by effective collaboration within complex organizations, strategic goal-setting, and international expansion initiatives. My multilingual skills (English, French, and Arabic) and dual nationalities (Lebanese and American) have enriched my ability to navigate diverse markets and cultures.
Staying Motivated in a Dynamic Role
For me, motivation stems from my dual focus: advancing medical innovation and making a real difference in patients’ lives. Every product we develop, every solution we deliver, has the potential to change someone’s story and help people achieve their dream of parenthood. That’s incredibly powerful.
Staying driven in a global leadership role requires balancing a demanding schedule with personal values. I credit my family for keeping me grounded; their support is my anchor. My commitment to a balanced and healthy lifestyle, including my active participation in the F45 High-Intensity Team Challenge, helps me maintain the energy and focus needed for my responsibilities.
Integrating Technology and Empathy
In a field as sensitive as fertility, the challenge lies in integrating cutting-edge technology without losing the patient focus. We can’t just innovate for innovation’s sake. We need to ask, ‘How does this improve the patient journey and the patient outcome? How does it support clinics in delivering better care for their patients?’
At CooperSurgical, we have introduced solutions and services that simplify complex processes, such as electronic witnessing systems and advanced genomic testing. But the real triumph lies in ensuring these innovations are accessible and empowering for patients and clinics alike.
Empowering Women Professionals
As a woman in a leadership role, I am deeply committed to fostering an environment where women can thrive. I have championed initiatives that promote mentorship, career development, and a culture of inclusivity. I believe that diverse voices drive innovation.
Empowerment is about creating opportunities and removing barriers. It’s about recognizing potential and investing in people, providing them with the tools to succeed.
My advice to young women aspiring to lead in healthcare is to believe in your vision and don’t be afraid to take risks. Seek mentors, build your network, and never stop learning. Most importantly, measure your success by the people you uplift, and don’t forget to celebrate the small wins along the way. Overcoming Challenges
My career has not been without its hurdles. Navigating a transition from a regional role to a global leadership position in a traditionally male-dominated industry came with unique challenges. These experiences, however, provided invaluable opportunities to break barriers, challenge biases, and pave the way for greater inclusivity.
Leadership is not just about making tough decisions in difficult times. It’s also about transparency, empathy, and ensuring that those decisions align with the organization’s values and long-term vision. As COO at Fakih IVF, I contributed to a significant industry acquisition and gained hands-on experience in board-level operations, preparing me for my current leadership responsibilities at CooperSurgical.
Board Memberships and Industry Contributions
Beyond my executive role at CooperSurgical, I serve as a board member for MECOMED and AVL Skincare, where I leverage my expertise to drive strategic initiatives and foster industry growth. My involvement underscores my dedication to advancing healthcare and related sectors through collaboration and innovation.
Defining Success and The Future of Fertility
Looking ahead, I see a future shaped by more personalized treatment, increased accessibility, and the integration of AI in clinical decision-making. The next frontier is making fertility solutions available to more people, irrespective of geography or socioeconomic status.
For me, success is about impact. It’s not just about hitting numbers or launching products. It’s about leaving a legacy of innovation, compassion, and empowerment. It’s about the lives we touch and the futures we help create.
As I continue to lead CooperSurgical’s fertility services with vision and heart, I am committed to excellence and inspiration to change fertility care for generations to come.
Katherine Abraham Evans: A Trailblazer in Nursing Leadership
A Journey Rooted in Passion
Katherine’s journey into nursing was fueled by an innate passion for patient care and an unrelenting desire to make a difference in people’s lives. From the early days of her career, she exhibited a deep commitment to excellence, quickly earning recognition for her clinical expertise and empathetic approach to patient advocacy. Over the years, she ascended through various leadership roles, each step further solidifying her impact on the field of nursing.
Her early experiences in emergency care and critical care settings shaped her understanding of the challenges nurses face daily. The fast-paced and high-stakes nature of these environments honed her decision-making skills and deepened her resolve to enhance patient care strategies. Katherine quickly recognized that leadership was not just about overseeing operations but also about fostering an environment where nurses could thrive, innovate, and deliver optimal care.
Leading with Innovation and Integrity
As a Chief Nursing Officer, Katherine has been at the forefront of implementing progressive strategies to enhance patient outcomes, improve nursing practices, and foster a culture of continuous learning. She believes in the power of innovation to transform healthcare and has spearheaded multiple initiatives integrating cutting-edge technology with evidence-based nursing practices. Under her leadership, hospitals have witnessed remarkable improvements in patient safety, staff engagement, and overall healthcare efficiency.
Her leadership style is centered around transparency and collaboration. She believes that open communication between nursing staff and hospital administration is critical to achieving lasting improvements in healthcare delivery. Katherine has championed initiatives that empower nurses by giving them a voice in decision-making processes, ensuring that policies and protocols are developed with direct input from those on the front lines of patient care.
One of her most notable accomplishments includes the integration of artificial intelligence and data analytics in nursing workflows. By leveraging predictive analytics, she has helped hospitals reduce readmission rates, improve early diagnosis accuracy, and streamline patient care plans. This forward-thinking approach has not only enhanced patient outcomes but has also alleviated the workload of nursing staff, reducing stress and improving job satisfaction.
Championing the Nursing Workforce
Understanding that the strength of any healthcare system lies in its workforce, Katherine has been a tireless advocate for nurse empowerment. She has played a pivotal role in developing mentorship programs, championing policies that address burnout, and ensuring nurses have access to professional development opportunities. Her efforts have not only improved retention rates but have also inspired a new generation of nursing professionals to step into leadership roles.
She has been instrumental in advocating for mental health support programs for nurses, recognizing the emotional and physical toll that nursing takes. Under her leadership, wellness programs, counseling services, and flexible work schedules have been implemented to help nurses maintain a healthy work-life balance. Her advocacy extends beyond hospital walls as she works closely with policymakers to ensure nurses receive the recognition, compensation, and support they deserve.
A Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, Katherine remains committed to driving systemic changes that elevate the nursing profession. Whether it is through policy advocacy, technological integration, or fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, her leadership continues to shape the future of nursing. She envisions a healthcare system where nurses are equipped with the tools, training, and support they need to provide the highest level of care.
She is a strong proponent of lifelong learning and continues to emphasize the importance of ongoing education in nursing. Through partnerships with universities and healthcare institutions, Katherine has helped design advanced training programs that prepare nurses for leadership roles and equip them with specialized skills in emerging fields such as telemedicine, robotics in healthcare, and genomic medicine.
A Legacy of Impact
Katherine Abraham Evans’ influence extends beyond the walls of the hospital. Through her dedication, resilience, and forward-thinking approach, she is not just a leader but a trailblazer redefining the role of a Chief Nursing Officer in the modern era. Her unwavering commitment to improving healthcare systems and uplifting the nursing community makes her a standout figure among the Most Influential Chief Nursing Officers Making an Impact in 2025.
Her story serves as an inspiration, a testament to the power of leadership, and a reminder that at the heart of healthcare lies the compassion and strength of those who dedicate their lives to it. Her legacy will undoubtedly inspire future generations of nurses to lead with purpose, drive innovation, and continue the mission of delivering compassionate, high-quality care to patients worldwide.