Barbara Tofani, MSN, RN

Barb Tofani, MSN, RN, is senior vice president of patient services and chief nursing officer at Cincinnati Children’s, a nonprofit, comprehensive pediatric health system. As a leader in research, education, patient care, advocacy and innovation, Cincinnati Children’s is ranked #1 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-2024 list of best children’s hospitals in the nation and is the #2 recipient of pediatric research grants from the National Institutes of Health.

Throughout her career, working in both acute and post-acute care settings, Tofani has demonstrated her patient-focused and people-oriented leadership as vice president of Inpatient/Ambulatory Services and assistant vice president of Perioperative Services. She has assisted in expanding care and access at Cincinnati Children’s neighborhood locations, facilitated training to reduce employee injuries and mitigate patient risk, and supported the health system’s Magnet designation—an honor only 7% of hospitals achieve for nursing excellence—in 2009, with re-designations in 2013 and 2018.

Prior to joining Cincinnati Children’s, Tofani held leadership positions at the Drake Center and Deaconess Hospital in Cincinnati, and Horizon Hospital System in Greenville, Pennsylvania, where she began her nursing career.

Tofani earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing and master’s degree in nursing administration from Edinboro University in Pennsylvania. She has received Cincinnati Children’s Burton R. Pease Award for Excellence in Nursing Leadership and the College of Mount St. Joseph Leadership in Nursing Award. She also serves on the board of trustees at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati and is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives.