Lora Cunningham, MSN, BSN, BA, RN, PMH-BC

Lora Cunningham, MSN, BSN, BA, RN, PMH-BC, is an accomplished hospital and health care professional with over 20 years of leadership experience in nursing and employee wellbeing. She currently serves as Nurse Manager and Employee Whole Health Coordinator at the Veterans Administration of Central Ohio, where she provides clinical and administrative oversight for Whole Health Nursing Staff, Gero-fit staff, and Nurse Coaches. Lora is recognized nationally for her expertise in Trauma Informed Care and Second Victim Support programs, having developed initiatives that have received funding support and been implemented across multiple VA sites. A certified PROSCI Change Practitioner, she has a proven track record of leading transformational programs that enhance staff resilience, psychological safety, and patient outcomes.

Throughout her career, Lora has held pivotal leadership roles in both inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings, including positions at the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, The Ohio State University, Riverside Methodist Hospital, and Cambridge Cancer Center. She has been instrumental in implementing evidence-based practices, recovery-oriented care models, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy programming. Her initiatives in shared governance, staff competency development, and accreditation readiness have consistently resulted in improved clinical outcomes, high patient and staff satisfaction, and regulatory compliance. Lora’s work has also been recognized in peer-reviewed publications, including co-authoring an article on advancing Trauma Informed Care in the Journal for Nurse Practitioners.

Lora holds a Master of Science in Nursing from Wheeling Jesuit University, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Legal Nurse Consulting coursework from Capital University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Human Resources Management and Organizational Leadership Development from Wheeling University. She is board-certified in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing and has completed extensive leadership and professional development training, including Holistic Nursing oversight, Magnet Designation projects, and Pathways to Excellence initiatives. Her career is distinguished by her dedication to advancing staff wellbeing, innovative program implementation, and transforming healthcare environments to provide the highest quality care for both patients and employees.

• Wheeling Jesuit University - MS

• Board Certification in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
• Certified PROSCI Change Practitioner