Deborah Grimes (BSN 1986)

New Orleans, Louisiana

Deborah F. Grimes, BSN, RN, JD, MSHQS received her BSN from the UAB School of Nursing in 1986. She is the Chief Diversity Officer for Ochsner Health. In this role, Deborah is critical in leading workforce and employee strategy for Ochsner and further developing policies and practices that promote focused attention to diversity and inclusion matters including recruitment, retention, workforce planning, and career development. Deborah also works within and across the communities Ochsner serves to emphasize the need to reduce disparate health outcomes and improve healthcare equity for all Ochsner patients.

Most recently, Deborah served as the UAB Health System’s first Chief Diversity Officer. She brings a wealth of expertise, knowledge and experience in diversity and inclusion, quality and compliance from her more than 33-year career at UAB. Originally trained as a nurse followed by serving as a risk management healthcare attorney, Deborah also has held several executive leadership positions at UAB Hospital, including director of Joint Commission/Quality Resources, vice president of Quality/Regulatory Affairs and Chief Compliance Officer before being appointed to Chief Diversity Officer.

Deborah is a member and leader of several professional groups, including Black Nurses Association, Society of Human Resources, Birmingham Society of Human Resources, Healthcare Compliance Association and the National Association Society of Healthcare Executives. She was also named one of the 2019 Most Influential Women in Corporate America by Savoy Magazine.