Christina Gardiner MPH, BSN, RN, NEA-BC
Christina Gardiner is a seasoned healthcare executive and Senior Director of Nursing with more than three decades of experience in acute care hospital settings. Having dedicated her career to healthcare since 1995, she currently serves in an executive, C-suite–level role where she provides strategic oversight of patient care operations across a hospital system. In her position, she leads and mentors a broad team of managers and directors, balancing high-level organizational priorities with the immediate demands of patient-centered care. Her leadership is defined by agility, accountability, and a deep commitment to excellence in nursing practice. Christina’s career reflects a steady and determined progression through the ranks of nursing leadership. She began as a Licensed Practical Nurse before earning her Registered Nurse credentials in 2001, gaining early experience in corrections and state prison healthcare before transitioning into emergency department nursing. Over time, she advanced through key leadership roles including charge nurse, hospital supervisor, manager, assistant director, and director. Her academic achievements—including degrees in nursing and a Master of Public Health, along with advanced board certification as a Nurse Executive (NEA-BC)—underscore her commitment to professional growth and clinical excellence. At the core of Christina’s leadership philosophy is a belief in integrity, trust, and meaningful human connection. She is a strong advocate for culturally competent, individualized care, emphasizing that patients should never experience their individual healthcare as “cookie-cutter” cases but rather as unique individuals shaped by their own experiences and needs. Known for her executive presence and ability to influence others, she works to instill these values across her teams, fostering environments where clear communication and compassion guide decision-making. Through her work, Christina continues to elevate standards in healthcare while remaining grounded in her mission to serve others with dignity and purpose.
• Board Certified Nurse Executive Advanced (NE-BC)
• Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support Instructor
• Licensed Practical Nurse
• Licensed Practical Nurse Degree
• Associate's Degree in Nursing
• Bachelor's Degree in Nursing
• Master's Degree in Public Health
• Board Certified Nurse Executive Advanced (NE-ABC)
• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
• American Nurses Association
• Boys and Girls Club of America (Big Sister Program)
• Food Banks
• Homeless Services
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to consistency and a personal drive to ensure that everyone is taken care of in our communities. My motivation comes from wanting to make sure that healthcare is the best that it can be, despite the ever-changing regulatory oversight and the significant financial constraints we face. There is just a consistent drive within me to do better, to be better, and to provide better care for the people we serve.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have ever received is to not let the negative things throw you off track. Don't let the things that feel so profound and heavy in the moment derail you. Instead, stay the course and see it through. It is important to maintain your perspective and not allow setbacks or difficult moments to consume your focus or discourage you from moving forward.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women entering healthcare that there is a tough road ahead, but every moment matters. Every moment counts, and every moment you are affecting someone else's life. The responsibility you carry is immense, but the rewards that you gain from this work will stay with you for the rest of your life. It is about understanding and embracing both the weight of that responsibility and the profound personal fulfillment that comes from making a difference in people's lives.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in healthcare right now is providing high quality healthcare that meets the needs of the community while facing consistent financial constraints. Unfortunately, the people who make reimbursement guidelines and regulations do not necessarily see how this affect real people. As a result, we are seeing patients coming into hospitals much later and much sicker, with more advanced illnesses, because they cannot afford to get treated earlier. In the end, this is costing healthcare just as much, if not more, than it would have cost to treat them if patients were managed earlier on. The biggest opportunity right now lies in more investments to preventative healthcare and health education. While federal funding for acute care hospitals continues to decrease, we need to invest in preventative care and create a robust system that helps people maintain health before they become sick. We do not currently have strong community safety nets which significantly promote health unless people are already ill. One of the greatest opportunities we have now would be to create a healthcare safety net that is much more focused on preventative care healthcare education and social equity, with the resources required to help people before they develop comorbidities and multiple healthcare issues that lead to expensive prolonged stays in acute care hospitals.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The value that most immediately comes to mind is integrity. I believe that we have to have integrity in all of the connections that we make, as it is essential for building trust. Furthermore, having the ability to communicate in an effective way is vital in order to achieve success, both in personal relationships and certainly in professional relationships.