Virtua Health, South Jersey’s largest health system, has promoted Catherine Hughes, MSN, MHA, RN, NEA-BC, to senior vice president and chief nursing officer.

The West Deptford resident has been with Virtua for 18 years. She most recently was vice president of nursing integration and outcomes, while also serving as interim chief nursing officer.

“Cathy has outstanding leadership qualities, which will enable her to work effectively with our nurses and collaborate with our physicians to ensure ongoing advances to Virtua’s care delivery model,” said Dennis W. Pullin, FACHE, president and CEO of Virtua Health.

In her new role, Hughes will lead all aspects of professional and nursing practice, as well as patient care throughout the not-for-profit health system. She will continue to focus on the integration of nursing operations and standards of care across Virtua Health’s continuum of services.

Marlton, N.J.-based Virtua Health grew substantially last year, with its acquisition of Lourdes Health System, Pullin noted. Today, Virtua has 14,000 employees working at 280 locations, including five hospitals.

“Cathy will play a key role in aligning our new organization, and in helping us to build an even greater network of care for the people of South Jersey,” he said.

Hughes has held a variety of nursing and senior leadership roles in health care. She joined Virtua in 2002 as vice president for patient care services for Virtua Berlin and Virtua Camden. Previously, she held various leadership roles at Kennedy Health System (now Jefferson Health) in Cherry Hill, Hampton Behavioral Health hospital in Westampton, and Saint Agnes Medical Center in Philadelphia.

Hughes is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Leaders (ONL), an elected board member of the N.J. ONL, and chair of the ONL Mentorship Committee. She belongs to the American Nurses Association and Sigma Theta Tau nursing honor society. A graduate of the Johnson & Johnson Wharton Fellows Program on Management for Nurse Executives, she is board-certified as an advanced nurse executive by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Hughes is also an advisory-board member for the Allied Health Program at Gloucester County Institute of Technology.

Hughes earned a bachelor of science in nursing from Widener University in Chester, Pa., a master of health administration from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, and a master of science in nursing from Thomas Edison University in Trenton.