Deborah Vaughn, MSN, named Chief Nursing Officer

Starr Regional Medical Center announced today that Deborah Vaughn, MSN, has been named Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) of Starr Regional Medical Center, effective July 22, 2024. Vaughn joins Starr Regional Medical Center following multiple interim CNO assignments for Lifepoint facilities, including Starr Regional Medical Center, the last three years.

“We are so excited to have Deborah step into this important leadership role,” said John McLain, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Starr Regional Medical Center. “She is an exemplary leader with a tremendous amount of clinical experience and expertise. Her commitment to championing patient care, supporting providers and employees, and serving our communities is evident in all that she does. I know she will help us further advance our mission of making communities healthier.”

As CNO of facilities in Louisiana, Texas and West Virginia, Vaughn has supported the implementation of quality programs aimed to increase patient safety, as well as programs to overcome staffing challenges through retention and recruitment efforts that provide opportunities for personal and professional development.

“Deborah is a great fit for our hospital,” said Carter Runyan, chair of Starr Regional Medical Center ’s board of trustees. “We have been impressed with her experience in nursing leadership and clinical knowledge, as well as her genuine care for people. We are looking forward to working with her to lead the hospital forward.”

Vaughn has more than 40 years of nursing experience, including 36 years of nursing leadership. Prior to serving the interim CNO assignments, Vaughn was the CNO at Raleigh General Hospital in Beckley, West Virginia, and retired from the hospital in 2021.

“Starr Regional Medical Center is such an important part of this community,” said Vaughn, “and I am really excited to take on this new role and join this incredible team of individuals. I look forward to building on the strong foundation that already exists and helping the leadership team look for even more ways to improve the overall health and well-being of this community.”

Vaugh holds a Master of Science in Nursing degree from University of Phoenix and a Master of Science in General Administration from Central Michigan University. She and her husband Leonard have two fur babies – Grace, a four-year-old Golden Retriever, and CoraLee, a four-year-old Bengal cat. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, fishing and spending time with her husband and her fur babies.