By Staff
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing alumnus Dustin T. Diggs, DNP, RN, FACHE (DNP 2025), has been named Chief Nursing Officer at UAB Hospital. After a national search, Diggs was selected to lead UAB Hospital’s nursing teams and support continued growth in nursing practice, operations and patient care.
“UAB Hospital’s nurses are central to our mission of providing life-changing care, and this role requires a leader who understands the complexity of our organization and the needs of our teams,” said UAB Hospital CEO Brenda Carlisle. “Through a national search, Dustin stood out for his operational experience, his commitment to nursing excellence, and his ability to build strong relationships across clinical teams. I am confident that he will continue providing the leadership needed to support our nurses and advance patient care.”
Diggs is filling the role previously held by UAB School of Nursing Associate Professor and Assistant Dean of Nursing Clinical Practice and Partnerships Terri Poe, DNP, RN, NE-BC (BSN 1986, DNP 2013), who was named the inaugural Chief Nursing Executive for UAB Health System earlier this year.
Previously, Diggs served as Associate Chief Nursing Officer, providing leadership for the medical divisions, Women and Infants Services and UAB Hospital-Highlands. Since joining UAB Medicine in July 2023, he has worked to advance new models of care, improve patient flow and strengthen operational performance.
With more than 18 years of healthcare leadership experience, Diggs’ background spans nursing, hospital operations and executive leadership. Diggs is a graduate of the UAB School of Nursing’s DNP Nurse Executive Pathway.
“The education and mentorship I received at the UAB School of Nursing have had a lasting impact on my approach to leadership,” Diggs said. “As Chief Nursing Officer, I look forward to building on that foundation to support our nurses, strengthen our practice environment and continue advancing exceptional patient care.”
Diggs will work closely with hospital and health system leaders to support continued momentum for UAB Hospital’s nursing teams and the patients they serve.