Anne Marie Watkins, DNP – Senior Vice President & Chief Nursing Executive, UCI Health

Leadership in healthcare often moves at a relentless pace. But the best leaders know when it’s time to pause.In this episode of Pulse Check with Dr. Kimberly Long, Kimberly sits down with Dr. Anne Marie Watkins, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive at UCI Health and Assistant Dean of Nursing Education. Anne Marie shares how her career evolved from a pediatric ICU nurse to a healthcare executive leading system-wide transformation.They discuss the power of influence beyond the bedside, the importance of listening to frontline teams, and why leaders must sometimes step back and take a “pulse check” during times of rapid growth and change.Anne Marie also reflects on how leadership visibility, communication, and trust empower nursing teams to thrive. She closes by sharing advice she would give her younger self about pacing a career in healthcare and maintaining balance along the way.This conversation offers valuable insights for healthcare leaders, nurses, and anyone navigating leadership in complex environments.In this episode, you'll learn:How nursing leaders can expand their impact beyond direct patient careWhy pausing during organizational change can strengthen teamsThe importance of frontline input when making operational decisionsHow visibility and communication keep leaders connected to their teamsWhy a successful career in healthcare is a marathon, not a sprint