Linda M. Shepherd, DNP, MBA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN
Principal Consultant
Linda M. Shepherd, DNP, MBA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN is a senior healthcare executive and Principal Consultant with more than 40 years of experience leading clinical operations, quality, patient safety, and organizational transformation across the healthcare continuum. Her career spans from frontline clinical practice to executive leadership, including multiple Chief Nursing Officer roles within complex health systems.
Dr. Shepherd brings extensive experience in accreditation, regulatory compliance, and performance improvement, with deep expertise in Joint Commission standards across hospital, critical access, behavioral health, ambulatory, and disease-specific care programs. She has served as a Principal Consultant with Joint Commission Resources, where she partnered with healthcare organizations across the United States and internationally to strengthen survey readiness, improve quality and safety outcomes, and implement sustainable performance improvement strategies.
Throughout her career, Dr. Shepherd has held executive leadership positions within major health systems, including Hospital Corporation of America and Ballad Health, where she led nursing operations, quality, and patient safety initiatives. She has also served as an independent executive consultant and interim Chief Nursing Officer, leading large-scale transformation efforts, including system-wide accreditation initiatives and Joint Commission International accreditations.
Dr. Shepherd is widely recognized for her ability to guide organizations through complex regulatory and operational challenges while aligning leadership, clinical practice, and performance improvement strategies. Her consulting approach focuses on identifying system vulnerabilities, developing targeted solutions, and supporting organizations in achieving sustainable, high-reliability performance.
In addition to her executive and consulting work, Dr. Shepherd is an accomplished author, national speaker, and respected leader in the nursing profession. She has held multiple leadership roles within professional organizations, including serving as President of the Virginia Nurses Association for two terms, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), one of the most prestigious honors in nursing.
She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Healthcare System Leadership from James Madison University, a Master of Business Administration from Liberty University, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Lynchburg University. She is board certified as a Nurse Executive Advanced (NEA-BC).