Somerville’s role entails supporting nurses and staff to provide expert care to patients, their family and the greater community.

“We are thrilled to have a leader like Jackie join our team of executives and nurses that are dedicated to providing world-class care for residents on the South Coast,” said President and CEO of Southcoast Health, Keith Hovan. “Her clinical expertise, exceptional knowledge and contributions to the nursing field are a perfect fit for our patient-centered approach. Jackie’s appointment as chief nursing officer is a testament to our commitment to cutting-edge, specialized healthcare.”

Somerville is an accomplished clinical executive with more than 30 years of progressive nursing and healthcare leadership experience.

“I am humbled and honored to be a part of Southcoast Health and I am excited to serve the patients and families of the South Coast,” said Somerville. “Southcoast Health’s commitment to being ‘More than medicine’ is a concept that truly resonates with me, and I look forward to the work that lies ahead in ensuring equity in access to high-quality care for our community.”

Somerville’s most recent posts include serving as chief nursing executive at the hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia and as Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston. She also serves as a faculty associate at the Watson Caring Science Institute, and as adjunct faculty at the Northeastern University School of Nursing and Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions in Boston.

Somerville is also a prolific researcher and writer. Her work describes and quantifies patients’ perceptions of feeling “known” by their nurses. She is the co-author of the book, Lead Like a Nurse, published by American Nurses Association in 2018.

She earned her bachelor of science and doctor of philosophy in nursing from the Boston College William F. Connell School of Nursing. She also holds a master of science in nursing administration from Boston University.

She is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Leaders, the American Nurses Association, the Organization of Nurse Leaders, M.A., R.I., N.H., V.T., C.T., and the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society.