Overview
Susan Clark, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CNL, is the Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer for Cleveland Clinic Martin Health, where she provides nursing leadership across three hospital locations, a free-standing emergency department and 13 ambulatory sites. She is an accomplished healthcare executive with more than 25 years of progressive leadership experience and a strong commitment to patient- and family-centered care, quality, safety, innovation and operational excellence. Her leadership approach is grounded in Lean principles, collaboration, accountability and the development of high-performing, multi-generational teams.
Since becoming Chief Nursing Officer in 2019, Dr Clark has led multiple integration workstreams, advanced shared governance through unit-based councils and supported nursing excellence across Martin Health. Under her leadership, Martin Health’s emergency departments earned ENA Lantern Awards, Tradition ICU received the AACN Beacon Award and Tradition Hospital was recognized as a top performer in the Vizient Bernard A. Birnbaum Quality and Accountability Award within the Complex Care Medical Center cohort. Additional recognitions include U.S. News & World Report High Performing in Maternity Care and maternal care awards from the Florida Department of Health and Florida Agency for Health Care Administration for low cesarean section rates.
Dr Clark’s career reflects deep experience in nursing operations, clinical practice, quality improvement and leadership development. Prior to her current role, she served as Interim Chief Nursing Officer and Site Administrator for Tradition Hospital and the St. Lucie West Emergency Department, overseeing nursing and operations for a 195-bed acute care hospital and 13-bay free-standing emergency department. She also held leadership roles as AVP/Site Administrator, Director of Inpatient and Pulmonary Services, Clinical Coordinator and Clinical Nurse Leader.
In addition to her executive leadership, Dr Clark serves as adjunct faculty for the University of Central Florida and remains active in professional and community organizations, including serving on nursing advisory boards at several colleges and universities.
Her contributions have been recognized through honors including the Florida State University Distinguished Graduate Award and the Cleveland Clinic Nursing Leadership Award.
Education
- DNP, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, 2015
- MSN, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida, 2007
- BSN, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 1997
Certifications
- Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL), American Association of Colleges of Nursing
- Nurse Executive Advanced-Board Certified (NEA-BC), American Nurses Credentialing Center
Contact Information
Cleveland Clinic Martin North Hospital
200 SE Hospital Avenue
Stuart, Florida 34995
772.223.5663
clarks24@ccf.org
Leadership
Clark is an engaged executive leader with more than 25 years of leadership experience. Under her leadership, the hospitals have earned numerous national recognitions, including ENA Lantern Awards for all three emergency departments, the AACN Beacon Award for Tradition Hospital’s ICU, Vizient quality recognition at Tradition Hospital and state and national awards for maternity care excellence. During her tenure as director of inpatient and pulmonary services at Tradition Medical Center from 2013 to 2018, Clark was a key stakeholder in planning and opening the acute care hospital, operationalizing the inpatient units and leading a three-floor expansion of adult inpatient units. Clark’s reputation as a visionary leader earned her a spot in 2016 as adjunct faculty for the University of Central Florida, where she teaches a Masters level practicum on Nursing Leadership and Management.
Clinical Practice & Teaching
Clinical Practice
Clark’s clinical experience covers a variety of specialties, including medical/surgical, nephrology, urology, telemetry, pediatrics, labor and delivery and wound, ostomy and continence.
Teaching
Clark serves as adjunct faculty at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, overseeing a Nursing Leadership and Management Practicum in the Masters program. As a leader at Cleveland Clinic Martin Health, she is passionate about coaching and mentoring opportunities for succession planning and engaging team members in expanding their own accountability to nursing as a profession.
Research & Publications
Clark is committed to sharing her knowledge and experience with others through professional nursing publications. In 2017, she published a case study entitled “Comprehensive Quality Improvement Efforts for Unassisted Fall Reduction” with MedBio Publications. In 2008, she co-contributed a chapter to the second edition of the book “Career Fulfillment in Nephrology Nursing: Your Guide to Professional Development.” The chapter was entitled “Clinical Expertise: Achieving Practice Excellence. Impacting the Iron Triangle of Healthcare Through Clinical Leadership.”
Professional Involvement
- Member, American Organization for Nursing Leadership
- Member, American Nurses Association
- Member, Florida Organization for Nursing Leadership
- Chair, Florida State University College of Nursing Alumni Council
- Member, Florida State University College of Nursing Chief Nursing Advisory Council
- Member, Indian River State College Nursing Advisory Council
- Member, Academy of Nursing and Health Occupations Nursing Advisory Council
- Member, AONE Early Career Professional Task Force, 2013
- Leader, AONE Early Career Professional Task Force Subgroup, 2013-2014
Honors & Awards
- Florida State University Distinguished Graduate Award, 2023
- Cleveland Clinic Nursing Excellence Award, Nursing Leadership, 2022
- Advanced ICU Care “I See You Care Award,” Advanced ICU, 2018
- Excellence in Leadership Nominee, Florida Organization of Nurse Executives, 2013
