Donna M. Krogh , PhD, CCRN, NEA-BC, PHN

Dr. Donna Krogh, She/Her, is the Chief Executive Officer of Smart Forward LLC, a research and development company dedicated to improving eldercare through the use of advanced technology. With nearly two decades of experience in clinical practice, leadership, and research, Donna combines frontline expertise with strategic insight to drive sustainable, data-informed advancements in healthcare. Dr. Krogh has extensive experience as a registered nurse and was inspired to reimagine eldercare after witnessing firsthand the unfavorable conditions many seniors face as residents of long-term care institutions. Her passion for seeking better solutions led her to undertake a PhD in Nursing Research at UCLA, where she developed expertise in healthcare innovation, quality assurance, and nursing leadership.

While teaching during her doctoral studies, Dr. Krogh heard nursing students share their negative internship experiences in nursing homes. Coupled with her awareness of an impending societal crisis involving insufficient caregiving resources and escalating costs, this deepened her commitment to finding innovative eldercare solutions. Upon receiving her doctorate, she leveraged her professional network to establish a long-term program advancing tech-enabled eldercare. This effort resulted in the formation of a consortium of renowned academics and practitioners passionately pursuing cost-effective, higher-quality care for the aging population. At Smart Forward, she leads initiatives that bridge clinical excellence with innovative research, empowering organizations to adapt, grow, and thrive in an evolving healthcare landscape.

Before founding and leading Smart Forward, Donna built a distinguished clinical career as a Registered Nurse with Cross Country Healthcare and as a COVID-19 Critical Care Crisis Nurse with American Mobile Healthcare, where she played a vital role on the frontlines during the pandemic. These experiences strengthened her leadership approach, emphasizing empathy, resilience, and evidence-based practice. Based in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, Donna continues to guide Smart Forward LLC as both a strategist and research collaborator, inspiring advancements in eldercare and healthcare as a whole.

• University of California, Los Angeles UCLA - PhD

• Daisy Award 2024

• ACN