Johnese Spisso, Board Chair
Clinical Operations Officer (COO) for UW Medicine
Vice President for Medical Affairs (VPMA) for the University of Washington.

Johnese Spisso, RN, MPA, is the Vice President for Medical Affairs and Clinical Operations Officer for UW Medicine. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing all clinical operations for UW Medicine, including the University of Washington Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center, the University of Washington Physicians Network and Airlift Northwest. Prior to her appointment to VPMA/COO, Johnese worked at Harborview Medical Center for 14 years where she was promoted from Chief Nursing Officer to Chief Operating Officer, a position she held for the past eight years. Prior to coming to Seattle, Johnese worked in progressive leadership positions for over 14 years at the University of California Davis Medical Center and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She is also a clinical faculty member of the University of Washington School of Nursing.

Johnese graduated from St. Francis School of Nursing, has a Bachelors Degree in Health Sciences from Chapman College and a Master’s Degree in Public and Health Care Administration from the University of San Francisco. She has published numerous articles and book chapters on healthcare administration and regional health care systems. She has extensive experience as an invited speaker nationally on healthcare management topics, and is a site surveyor for Trauma Center Designations in other states.

Johnese is Chair of the King County Health Regional Care Coalition representing the Seattle/King County hospitals in disaster preparedness. She serves on the boards of the Washington State Hospital Association, the Healthcare Workforce Institute for King County, the American Heart Association, the YMCA, and Villa Academy School.