St. Joseph’s Health Names New Chief Nursing Officer

CNY Native Dr. Jamie Kabanuk Brings Prior CNO and Military Leadership Experience to the


U.S. News & World Report Best Regional Hospital System

Syracuse, NY — St. Joseph’s Health is pleased to announce the appointment of Jamie M. Kabanuk, DNP, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, to Chief Nursing Officer (CNO). Dr. Kabanuk has a proven track record of fostering a culture of ownership through accountability, respect, innovation, and shared governance. As CNO, she will provide clinical and administrative leadership for planning, organizing, directing, monitoring and evaluating safe high-quality patient care to advance the mission of St. Joseph’s Health.

Dr. Kabanuk grew up in Lansing, NY, and has many family members in Central New York. She returns to the region from Colleton Medical Center in Walterboro, South Carolina, where she served as Chief Nursing Officer. Under her leadership, the hospital experienced improvement in physician engagement, nursing care, and overall quality of care. In addition, she optimized patient flow in several ways including reducing emergency department admitted length of stay.

Prior to her position at Colleton Medical Center, Dr. Kabanuk spent six years at Grand Strand Medical Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She served in several roles including Assistant Chief Nursing Officer. As ACNO, assisted with the planning and development of a trauma center and served as the executive lead for several departments including the comprehensive Behavioral Health program, Pediatric/NICU, Critical Care and Neuroscience service lines. Dr. Kabanuk also led the Emergency Operations Committee team for natural disasters including nursing operations during the 2018 hurricane.

Before moving to South Carolina, Dr. Kabanuk worked as a Nurse Manager of the Emergency Department at Cortland Regional Medical Center and Nurse Manager of the Traumatic Brain injury Unit at Crown Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Cortland, NY.

“We are excited to have Jamie return to Central New York and lead our excellent, Magnet-recognized, nursing staff,” said Leslie Paul Luke, President and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health. “Jamie is an innovative leader with vast experience at several hospitals. Members of our medical staff, senior staff, colleagues, and Board members strongly endorsed her. She will be an outstanding addition to our team as we work together to serve as a compassionate and transforming healing presence within our communities.”

Dr. Kabanuk received her Doctorate of Nursing in Executive Leadership from Chamberlain University in Illinois in 2018, her Master of Science in Nursing Leadership from Jacksonville University in Florida in 2016, her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Utica College in Utica, New York in 2014 and her Associates Degree in Nursing from Tompkins-Cortland Community College in 2006.

Dr. Kabanuk also served four years in the United States Army as a non-commissioned Officer in Charge, managing operations for equipment intake, maintenance pool and base supply chain. She served as the emergency response team leader and was activated for Operation Iraqi Freedom with Achievement Medals awarded.

Dr. Kabanuk is a member of the American Nurses Association, American College of Healthcare Executives, and the American Organization of Nurse Executives.

She and her husband, a Cortlandville native, and their two children, are excited to return to the area. They are looking forward to once again fishing and boating in the lakes and canal, hiking local trails, spending time at Montezuma and other parks, and attending SU sporting events.

Dr. Kabanuk will take over as Chief Nursing Officer on August 16, 2021.

About St. Joseph’s Health

St. Joseph’s Health is a regional non-profit health care system based in Syracuse, NY. St. Joseph’s has been an innovative leader in health care since our founding in 1869 as the first hospital open to the public in the city of Syracuse. Offering primary, specialty and home care, a Magnet-recognized hospital, and collaboration with community partners, St. Joseph's Health advances the well-being of the communities we serve through an expanding range of services to ensure our patients achieve optimum long-term health. St. Joseph’s is the only hospital in Syracuse to hold the LeapFrog ‘A’ safety rating, ranked by Consumer Reports among the top 15 heart surgery centers in the country, a designated Stroke Center and a U.S. News “Best Regional Hospital.” St. Joseph’s Health is affiliated with St. Joseph’s Physicians, and is a member of Trinity Health. For more information, visit www.sjhsyr.org.

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