UWindsor nursing alumna and distinguished health-care leader Donna Wellington shares industry insight and aims to inspire nurses to explore diverse career paths and drive meaningful change.
“Be authentic,” says Donna Wellington emphatically. “Use your voice positively to be heard, foster connections, and seek to understand.”
Wellington (BScN 1994, MBA 2004) is a Black health-care leader with over 27 years of executive experience at Henry Ford Health in Detroit. Currently, she is senior vice-president - chief ambulatory officer, and vice-president system primary health.
Her roles have included appointments that oversee strategic direction and operational performance that aim to enhance the quality and delivery of care in both hospital and ambulatory settings — medical services that involve patients who are not admitted to a hospital stay. Her path has been one of resilience, determination, and commitment to quality care.
As a child of a single parent raised in a predominantly white neighborhood, Wellington understood early in life the importance of pride in her identity and the power of a strong work ethic — virtues her mother passed on to her.
“Embrace who are unapologetically, generate a sense of belonging, and contribute to the conversation you are a part of,” says the Windsor native.
These words resonated deeply, especially in a field like nursing, where collaboration and advocacy are essential.
Her belief in the power of human connection fuelled her decision to start a career in nursing. She shares the idea that nursing is a privilege, given the opportunity to care for individuals during their most vulnerable moments.
“Honesty and integrity lead to trust and trust is essential in patient relationships,” says Wellington. “Nurses cannot lose sight of that as the connections your forge with your patients leave lasting impressions.”
She appreciates the advancement of technology and artificial intelligence to streamline workplace processes but stresses the importance of balance. She voices concern about how too much technology can affect genuine human interaction — an element vital for expressing sincere compassion to individuals and their families during hospital visits.
“We spend a lot of time with patients, and they remember feelings of what they went through,” she says. “The delivery of good news, bad news, the support that’s given to the family. It is vital in nursing education to always prioritize compassionate care and relationship-building, even in a tech-driven environment.”
Donna Wellington practices an eye exam and ambulating a patient (fellow student) at a lab session at University of Windsor, 1991.
Wellington values mentorship and hopes to see more nurses making an impact in non-traditional nursing settings such as in high executive (C-suite) roles, health-care analytics, advocacy, research, and compliance. The pandemic affected nursing, and she believes that informing prospective students about opportunities beyond conventional jobs can revitalize a profession in desperate need to meet health-care demands.
“I have a career for life that I am blessed to serve every day,” she says. “I’m an example of how you can make contributions outside of standard nursing paths.”
In addition to her current post at Henry Ford Health System, Wellington’s other appointments include:
- vice-president – system primary health & chief operations officer - behavioral health
- vice-president operations – Henry Ford Hospital
- senior administrator manager (women’s health, dermatology, genetics, urology, primary care, and pediatrics)
- nurse administrator – Henry Ford Hospital
- nurse administrator – Primary Care
Wellington has also served in various roles and received honours such as:
- Top 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women
- Career Mastered National Women’s award 2024
- advisory board member, the Centre for Executive and Professional Development, University of Windsor
- board of directors, Ontario Hospital Association, vice-chair – governance & nominating committee
- fellow, Carol Emmott Fellowship (inaugural class)
- fellow of American Hospital Association
- keynote speaker for International Women’s Day Gala 2018, Windsor-Essex County
- MBA community champion recipient 2019 – Odette School of Business
Wellington understands and takes pride in the fact that she’s a nurse first, noting that it’s a fantastic field of work where there is no shortage of action.
“You truly can make an impact on not only those that you serve, but your workplace partners because it takes a team to provide great care to even just one patient,” says Wellington. “And use your voice constructively. It matters.”
– Gam Macasaet
