Market Chief Nursing Officer Named at HSHS
December 22, 2025
Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS), a leading Catholic health ministry with operations in Illinois and Wisconsin, announced today that Jennifer Garnica, RN, BSN, MHA, has been named Central Illinois Market Chief Nursing Officer. She will join HSHS on Jan. 19, 2026.
In this role, Garnica will be responsible for nursing functions, best practices and efficiencies across the Central Illinois Market, which includes HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham, HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur, HSHS St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield and HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital in Shelbyville.
Garnica is an experienced and collaborative nursing leader passionate about cultivating effective communication, solving complex problems, fostering creativity and structuring strategy in a multidisciplinary approach. She joins HSHS from SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital in St. Louis serving most recently as Associate Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer (CNO). Her previous roles at SSM Health included Vice President of Patient Care Services and CNO at SSM Health St. Mary’s Health Center, Administrative Director of Nursing Operations at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, and Director of Medical Acute Care and Emergency Services at SSM St. Mary’s Hospital. She began her nursing career as a registered nurse at SSM St. Mary’s Hospital.
She holds a Master of Health Administration and a Bachelor of Science in nursing, both from the University of Phoenix, and an associate in applied science in registered nursing from St. Louis Community College Forest Park in St. Louis.
In this role, Garnica will be responsible for nursing functions, best practices and efficiencies across the Central Illinois Market, which includes HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham, HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur, HSHS St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield and HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital in Shelbyville.
Garnica is an experienced and collaborative nursing leader passionate about cultivating effective communication, solving complex problems, fostering creativity and structuring strategy in a multidisciplinary approach. She joins HSHS from SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital in St. Louis serving most recently as Associate Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer (CNO). Her previous roles at SSM Health included Vice President of Patient Care Services and CNO at SSM Health St. Mary’s Health Center, Administrative Director of Nursing Operations at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, and Director of Medical Acute Care and Emergency Services at SSM St. Mary’s Hospital. She began her nursing career as a registered nurse at SSM St. Mary’s Hospital.
She holds a Master of Health Administration and a Bachelor of Science in nursing, both from the University of Phoenix, and an associate in applied science in registered nursing from St. Louis Community College Forest Park in St. Louis.
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