Getting to Know Dr. Michelle Welander — Chief Nursing Officer for Children's Services at OU Health

Dr. Michelle Welander, DNP, R.N., NEA-BC, FACHE, recently took on the role of Chief Nursing Officer for Children’s Services at OU Health, bringing with her a wealth of experience and a deeply personal connection to nursing. Raised in rural Mississippi, Dr. Welander's path to nursing began with a profound personal experience. As a senior in high school, her mother was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer, and she passed away a year later. As the eldest of three girls, Dr. Welander took on the role of helping her father care for her sisters while pursuing a future in healthcare.

Initially premed, Dr. Welander's career trajectory changed when she witnessed the compassionate care provided by nurses to her mother. This experience, coupled with her responsibilities at home, solidified her decision to pursue nursing. In 1995, she graduated from Mississippi University for Women School of Nursing and began her career as an acute care pediatric nurse at Mississippi’s only children’s hospital in Jackson at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC). There, she discovered her passion for both pediatric critical care and leadership.

Over the past three decades, Dr. Welander has held various nursing and executive leadership roles, including Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at the University of Texas Health Houston, Children’s Heart Institute in Houston, Texas. In January 2024, she commenced her role as Chief Nursing Officer for Children's Services at OU Health.

As Chief Nursing Officer, Dr. Welander provides operational oversight to Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health, bringing extensive experience in hospital operations and a passion for developing the next generation of healthcare leaders in women’s and children’s health. She describes pediatric nursing as a specialized skill set that requires compassionate, empathetic care.

"In pediatric nursing, you are taking care of someone’s most prized possession—their child," said Dr. Welander. "The nursing team must prioritize both the care of the patient and their parents. Children are so resilient, but it’s the parents we need to keep informed and reassured to earn their trust."

Pediatric nurses must do everything on a smaller scale—smaller veins, smaller doses, and some of the tiniest babies, often in emergency settings. Dr. Welander stresses the importance of good mentors and extensive training to achieve the level of skill and competence needed to be successful. She is grateful that over 1,200 nurses she works with at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital meet these criteria and embody the OU Health Way value of “Relentless Excellence.” The children’s team inspires her every day.

The OU Health Nursing Professional Practice Model emphasizes the vital role of relationships with patients, caregivers, colleagues, and the community. It prioritizes creating a culture of collaboration to ensure patients and communities feel genuinely cared for. The foundation of care delivery highlights how professional nursing directly influences and enhances quality outcomes, ultimately improving the quality of life for patients and the community.

As stated by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL), nursing leadership resilience is a critical component for supporting a healthy workforce and ensuring quality patient care.

As a nurse leader, Dr. Welander embraces this responsibility by creating supportive work environments that promote resilience. In addition, through her own resilience, she navigates challenging situations and recognizes the achievements of her team while addressing workplace stressors.

After over 22 years at UMMC’s Children’s Hospital, Dr. Welander felt ready for a change and accepted the position of Chief Nursing Officer for an affiliated, county-owned hospital. During her tenure the COVID pandemic occurred and her work with the teams supporting the community reignited her passion for nursing. This move also provided her with valuable experience in both adult and women’s health.

In her current role at OU Health, Dr. Welander is focused on strengthening the nursing workforce and the next generation of healthcare leaders. She fosters a stable workforce with supportive, engaged leaders. Her goal is to see Oklahoma Children’s Hospital ranked among the top 10 children’s hospitals in the country through innovative, high-quality care. She encourages her nursing leadership team to learn from one another and collaborate by sharing successes.

Dr. Welander is committed to supporting her team’s professional development with opportunities to learn and grow through all the resources available at OU Health and the University of Oklahoma Fran & Earl Ziegler College of Nursing. In addition to professional growth, she emphasizes the importance of promoting balance.

"Sometimes you need to give work more time and energy, and other times we need to prioritize our family and friends," she said. "We need to be able to say, 'my family needs me at the moment' and give them that dedicated time. That is how we can strive to achieve balance."

Dr. Welander is excited about her role, especially working closely with OU Health Chief Nurse Executive Dr. Stephanie Beavers, DNP, R.N., NEA-BC, and her newly appointed nursing executive team that spans adult, children’s, ambulatory and cancer services. She brings a unique skill set, having been part of a pediatric organization for most of her career. This experience enables her to see the bigger picture and move Oklahoma Children’s Hospital forward. A priority for Dr. Welander this next year will be to round weekly across the hospital and understand what support and resources are needed as well as discussing what it means to belong to OU Health and Oklahoma Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Welander’s journey from compassionate caregiver in rural Mississippi to a visionary leader at OU Health exemplifies her dedication to nursing and her unwavering commitment to patient care. As she continues to inspire and lead the nursing team at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital, Dr. Welander remains focused on fostering a supportive and resilient workforce. Her goal is not only to elevate the hospital to national recognition but also to ensure that every child and family receives the highest quality of care. In doing so, she will support the three-part academic health system mission of clinical care, education, and research and continue to promote OU Health as a destination of choice for patients, and an employer of choice for top talent in Oklahoma. With her unique blend of personal experience, professional expertise, and heartfelt compassion. Dr. Welander is poised to make a profound impact on the future of pediatric healthcare at OU Health.

Learn more about making a difference in the lives of Oklahomans and the various career journeys and opportunities for nurses at OU Health by visiting OUHealth.com/Nursing.