2022 Most Outstanding Alumnus Award Winner
Deborah J. Esmon is Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer for Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare–North Hospital, which is the only adult Magnet hospital in West Tennessee. Under her leadership, the hospital achieved its Magnet designation in 2019, with a rare 10 exemplars.
Ms. Esmon earned her diploma in Nursing from Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in 1980 and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Memphis in 1989. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing with a focus on Nursing Administration from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s College of Nursing in 1996. Ms. Esmon also holds a master’s degree in business administration.
She has enjoyed a long career in nursing administration and leadership, including six years as Administrative Director of Nursing, Acute Care, for Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, and a year as Senior Director of Emergency Services for Le Bonheur. Ms. Esmon has also served as Director of Patient Care services for Tenet Healthcare in Memphis, Director of Methodist Alliance Home Care, and Director of Clinical Grant Projects for the Nurse Leader Institute (NLI) for Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare. In that role, she was responsible for implementing a $1.2 million HRSA grant and activities for the NLI’s third and final cohort.
Ms. Esmon is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives and the Tennessee Organization of Nurse Executives. She is a member of the Tennessee Nurses Association, where she has served as a District Director and Delegate. She is also a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, where she served on the Nominating Committee.
