Brigid K. Toyne-Barfoot, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, has been appointed as the new chief nursing officer at Blessing Health System. She takes over from Tim Tranor, DNP, MBA, RN, who has moved into the role of executive vice president and chief operating officer after serving as chief nursing officer since 2015.
Toyne-Barfoot brings more than 15 years of experience in nursing leadership to her new position. Prior to joining Blessing Health System, she was associate chief nursing officer for nursing practice, innovation and professional development at University Health in Kansas City, Missouri. University Health is an academic medical center that operates two acute care hospitals and a Level 1 trauma center. It also manages over 70 outpatient locations and runs Kansas City’s largest behavioral health program.
Her previous roles at University Health included corporate director of nursing programs and director of medical/surgical services. She has also worked as director of nursing for operating room and laboratory services and served as a nurse manager.
“When I learned Blessing was looking for a chief nursing officer, I reviewed the website, and the word ‘community’ kept coming up,” Toyne-Barfoot said. “A strong commitment to the community is something that I believe in, and I wanted my next role to be with an organization that believed the same. As I continue to meet Blessing team members, I see that deep commitment to the communities they serve in the work they do daily.”
Toyne-Barfoot earned both her doctorate of nursing practice (DNP) and Master of Science in Nursing with a focus on organizational leadership from the University of Kansas School of Nursing in Kansas City. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Avila University in Kansas City.
She holds advanced certification as a nurse executive (NEA-BC) from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Additionally, she is a member of several professional organizations including the American Organization for Nursing Leadership and both Illinois and Missouri organizations for Nurse Leaders.
Blessing Health System employs about 1,150 nurses across its hospitals and clinics located throughout west central Illinois and northeast Missouri.
