Dr. Debbie Jennings

Dr. Debbie Jennings

Innovation

Debbie Jennings, DNP, MSN, RN, is a healthcare innovator and nurse leader dedicated to transforming complex systems into more humane, accessible, and equitable pathways of care. With more than 25 years in nursing and over a decade in executive leadership, she brings a rare ability to bridge clinical practice, policy, and community impact to create scalable, sustainable solutions.

Jennings previously served as Regional Chief Nursing Officer for Select Medical, where she led nursing practice across as many as 18 hospitals and advanced system-level strategies to improve quality outcomes, patient experience, and workforce engagement. Her work extends well beyond traditional healthcare settings. As founder of Doin Well, LLC, she designs adaptive health literacy and mental health education programs for individuals often excluded from conventional care models, including people experiencing street homelessness. These trauma-informed programs emphasize practical system navigation, trust-building, and access to follow-up care.

A central focus of Jennings’ work is supporting youth aging out of foster care, which she frames as a critical public health inflection point. Her cross-sector approach advances preventative, upstream strategies addressing mental health, housing instability, and access to care.

Jennings is a Clinical Assistant Professor at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Nursing and a 2024 Fellow of the AACN Diversity Leadership Institute. She also serves in key leadership roles advancing policy and community change across Texas.