2016 Panelist: Kristin Wolkart
Kristin Wolkart, RN, MHA, NEA-BC, PMP is the President and CEO of St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe.
Kristin’s tenure with the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System began
in 1995 at St. Elizabeth Hospital where she held various administrative level positions
including Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services through
August 2007.
In August of 2007, Kristin became the Chief Nursing Information Officer for the health
system with a primary focus on streamlining electronic health record adoption strategies
for clinicians across the health system in order to increase efficiency, quality,
and safety. Additionally the CNIO role assisted hospital executives across the health
system in achieving Stage 1 meaningful use of electronic health records.
In January 2013, Kristin took on the role of Director of Special Projects reporting
to John J. Finan, President/CEO of FMOLHS. This unique development opportunity allowed
Kristin to learn a wide array of health systems operations while working on individual
projects assigned over the course of the year.
In April of 2014, Kristin’s role again changed and she became the COO of St. Francis
Medical Center. In December of that same year she was named as the President and
CEO at St. Francis.
Kristin is an active board member on the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, University of
Louisiana Monroe Foundation, Northern Louisiana Physician Hospital Organization, Northeast
Louisiana Cancer Institute, P&S Surgical Hospital, as well as St. Francis Medical
Center and St. Francis Medical Center Foundation.
Kristin has been a Registered Nurse since 1991and is a 1991 graduate of LSUMC School
of Nursing in New Orleans with a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing, and 2004 graduate
of Kennedy-Western University with a Master's in Healthcare Administration.
Kristin is board certified as a Nurse Executive, Advanced through the American Nurses
Credentialing Center. In 2010 she became a Certified Green Belt in Six Sigma and a
certified Project Management Professional through the Project Management Institute.
Kristin has been married to Ross Wolkart for 25 years, and has a 22 year old son,
Taylor Wolkart, attending LSU in Baton Rouge.
