Deborah Stamps, executive vice president chief nursing education and diversity, equity and inclusion officer at Rochester Regional Health, is of the honorees for the 17th annual DiversityFIRST National Diversity and Leadership Conference.
Stamps is among 50 leaders across the country recognized in May with the Leadership Excellence Award at the “Be a Changemaker” four-day conference.
As the leader of the diversity, equity and inclusion office at Rochester Regional Health, Stamps has taken an active role in encouraging all members of the Rochester community and beyond to get the COVID-19 vaccine through a “community conversations” initiative. These virtual conversations give community members a chance to learn more about vaccine and vaccine safety from Stamps, other diversity leaders, and medical experts. The conversations were tailored to specific communities like the deaf and hard of hearing, LGBTA+, veterans, disabled, and Latinx.
Stamps began her career in 1989 as a licensed practical nurse at Rochester General Hospital. From there, she continuously advanced her professional credentials as well as her clinical and management roles obtaining associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in nursing; master’s degrees in gerontological nursing and business administration; and an education doctorate. She is nationally certified as a nurse executive by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
She has served as a nurse manager and chief nursing officer at RRH, and most recently as vice president of quality, safety, and innovation.
She led the strategy to meet the needs of the Rochester Community, through the expansion of the Isabella Graham Hart School of Practical Nursing as well as providing home health aid and certified nursing assistant training programs.
She currently leads the newly instated Rochester General College of Health Careers, a continuing education institution offering innovative and hands-on programs where students can earn an associate of applied science degree with a major in nursing as well as other healthcare education.
Photo: Stamps