Graduation Speaker

James Ballinghoff, DNP, Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive for University of Pennsylvania Health System

James Ballinghoff, DNP, is the vice president and chief nurse executive for the University of Pennsylvania Health System. He also serves as the assistant dean for Clinical Practice at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.

He is a Maxima Cum Laude graduate of La Salle University’s BSN Program. Ballinghoff also received an MSN and an MBA from La Salle University. He earned a Doctorate in Nursing Practice from the University of Pennsylvania.

Ballinghoff has served in several leadership positions within the University of Pennsylvania Health System, including chief nursing officer and director of Critical Care and Cardiology at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, director of Quality, Program Development and Regulatory Affairs at Penn Home Care and Hospice Services, director of Penn’s Home Care Agency, and, prior to that, he served as manager of the Cardio-Thoracic Surgical Intensive Unit and as manager of a transplant unit, both at Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

In 2012, he was honored with the Philadelphia Tri-State Nursing Excellence Award for Advancing and Leading the Profession, given by Nursing Spectrum magazine, and has been recognized for his caring and compassionate leadership style and for his work as a mentor for other nurses in their work with patients and as administrators. Ballinghoff has presented both nationally and internationally on various topics, including leadership, reducing hospital readmissions, patient flow and implementing a shared governance model.

Ceremonies and Celebrations

College of Nursing and Health Professions Graduation Ceremony

CNHP Department-Specific Celebration Events

University-Wide Celebration Events