Chantal Howard, MSN, RN, CEN, NEA-BC serves as the Chief Nursing and Patient Care Officer (CNPCO) for Duke University Hospital and a registered nurse with over 30 years of experience.

In this role, Howard provides leadership, management, and fiscal responsibility for patient care services to achieve excellent patient care and enhance quality. Howard is also responsible for nursing practice across the continuum of care within the hospital and outpatient/ambulatory care services - delivering oversight and direction while establishing and maintaining a system for developing, reviewing, approving and disseminating standards for clinical practice.

Prior to her current role, Howard has served in multiple nursing leadership positions, including Vice President of Nursing, Director of Emergency Services, Director of Nursing for Cardiovascular Services, and Emergency Department Nurse Manager.

Howard holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing and is currently enrolled in the Duke University School of Nursing Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. Howard also holds two professional board certifications as an advanced nurse executive and emergency nursing.

Howard is active in the community and a member of several professional organizations including: the American Nurses Association (ANA), the American Association for Nursing Leadership (AONL), the North Carolina Organization of Nurse Leaders (NCONL), the Emergency Nursing Association (ENA), and the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing (AAACN).

Howard currently serves on the board as President-elect for the North Carolina Organization of Nurse Leaders, is a board member of the Wake County EMS Research Board, and is a member of the Wake County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team. Howard partnered with INTERACT, the domestic violence agency in Wake County, and Durham Crisis Center in Durham County to implement the lethality assessment program, which screens victims of domestic violence who are at high risk of being killed. She implemented one of Brooklyn, New York’s first Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Programs and has presented on both a state and national level on disaster management, stroke management, and nursing leadership.