Nursing Division
Carol Porter, DNP, RN, FAAN
Chief Nursing Officer, Senior Vice President
MD Anderson’s nursing community transforms nursing care through clinical practice, education and research. Each day, more than 4,800 registered nurses deliver compassionate, evidence-based cancer care to patients and their families.
Nurses in all areas of MD Anderson are integral members of interdisciplinary teams that are leading the way in setting standards for innovative cancer care, including advances in immunotherapy and personalized medicine. With one of the largest clinical trial programs in the world, MD Anderson offers a collaborative environment that empowers nurses to lead in the administration of research therapies and the required ongoing monitoring. As treatments become more complex, our nurses continue to develop and implement new discoveries.
Our nurses demonstrate excellence in a variety of areas and roles, including in our hospital and ambulatory care settings in the Texas Medical Center and Houston-area locations. We have a high number of nurses who maintain certifications to provide specialty care to patients of all ages. We have bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate-prepared practitioners and leaders across all academic, educational, administrative and research programs.
Since 2001, MD Anderson has earned five consecutive Magnet Recognition Program® designations from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, which recognizes health care organizations for superior patient outcomes, teamwork and innovations in professional nursing practice.
This designation is one of the reasons MD Anderson is consistently ranked among the nation’s top hospitals for cancer care in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” survey.
Carol Porter, DNP, RN, FAAN
With more than 25 years of senior nursing leadership experience, Carol Porter, D.N.P., RN, FAAN, brings a wealth of knowledge regarding clinical operations, emergency management, quality and interdisciplinary collaboration to her role as the leader of MD Anderson’s diverse nursing community and the institution as a whole.
Since joining MD Anderson in 2016, Dr. Porter has served as an executive sponsor of numerous strategic improvement initiatives. An avid champion for nursing research and education, she has a passion for driving innovative approaches to patient care and is leading efforts to further develop the institution’s nursing research program. She served as an incident commander during Hurricane Harvey in 2017, leading the institution through an unprecedented storm and recovery period.
in 2020, Dr. Porter and the nursing team successfully completed MD Anderson’s journey toward achieving its fifth consecutive Magnet Recognition Program® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
She believes the role of any leader is to educate and mentor. As a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, she's committed to shaping the future of nursing across the nation and globally by promoting a culture that empowers nurses to take charge of their nursing practice and to strive to achieve higher professional goals.
Prior to joining MD Anderson, Dr. Porter served for 12 years as chief nursing officer at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. During her tenure, the ANCC honored Mount Sinai twice with Magnet designation. She also led the establishment of the hospital’s Center for Nursing Research and Education, which encourages nurses to become engaged in nursing research and turn their findings into practice.
Dr. Porter earned a doctorate of nursing practice from Case Western Reserve University, a master's degree in public administration-health administration from Rutgers University, and a bachelor's degree in nursing from William Paterson University. She is a Wharton Nurse Executive Fellow, Fellow of the American Academy of Nurses, and is a 2010 graduate of the International Council of Nurses Global Nursing Leadership Institute in Geneva, Switzerland.
Nursing by the Numbers
4800+
registered nurses
85%
of nurses earned bachelor degrees or higher
66%
specialty certification rate
Nursing Professional Practice Model
MD Anderson's Nursing Professional Practice Model (PPM) represents how key elements of professional nursing practice at MD Anderson connect to each other. The PPM is based on The Quality-Caring model, developed by Joanne Duffy, Ph.D., RN, FAAN. All PPM components operate within the context of MD Anderson's Core Values of Caring, Integrity, Safety, Discovery and Stewardship.
Developed by frontline nurses, the PPM includes open hand imagery, which is a universal sign of caring, and colors that reflect the breadth of caregivers and patients at MD Anderson.
Why Nurses Choose MD Anderson
Nursing Division Annual Report FY23: Transforming Together
A message from the Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer:
“When I reflect on this past year, I’m reminded of Florence Nightingale, whose dedication and unwavering commitment to patient care revolutionized the field of nursing. Her legacy reminds us that nursing is more than a profession – it’s a calling to lead. As a nursing community, we’ve been focused on supporting and advancing our profession so that we are all well prepared to be active leaders.
Our 4,800+ nurses and teams continue to shed a light on what is possible at the No. 1 cancer hospital in the country. In 2023, we embarked on a transformational effort to shape the future of oncology nursing at MD Anderson – and beyond. More than 120 nursing and multidisciplinary leaders and frontline staff are guiding our Nursing Transformation forward. Steadfast support from executive leadership, as well as significant philanthropic investment, are accelerating our efforts to innovate and enhance the nursing team experience, including leadership training and development, nursing practice innovation, virtual nursing opportunities, work-life balance and wellness, and more.
In the following pages, you’ll see the notable progress we’ve made in the first six months and beyond, from launching a virtual nursing program to developing leadership training tailored to the needs of frontline nurse leaders. This is just the beginning. Our Nursing Transformation continues to gain momentum and create positive change in the way we support and value our nursing teams across the institution.”
Nursing Division Annual Report FY22: Raising the Bar
DAISY Award
The DAISY Award is an international program that rewards and celebrates the extraordinary clinical skill and compassionate care given by nurses every day. As a proud DAISY Award
Partner, MD Anderson has recognized more than 150 deserving inpatient and outpatient nurses since 2012. In addition, The DAISY Foundation has provided several grants to support our registered nurses who continually seek lifelong learning and explore best and evidence-based practices through research and innovation. DAISY honorees are nominated by their peers, physicians, patients and families, and other staff and administrators. To nominate a nurse, please complete a DAISY Award Nomination Form.
Nurses on the Front Line
