UnityPoint Health Nursing Leaders Named Becker’s ‘CNOs to Know’

UnityPoint Health is proud to announce two current, and one former nursing leaders have been named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s annual “Hospital and Health System CNOs to Know” list for 2025.

Chief nursing officers (CNOs) are responsible for managing nursing departments and leading forward-thinking initiatives that elevate patient care and strengthen clinical excellence. They also are responsible for tackling nurse staffing challenges, managing budgets, and fostering the growth and development of emerging nurses.

“Strong nursing leadership is essential to delivering safe, high-quality care to our patients and communities, UnityPoint Health Chief Medical Officer Gregory Johnson, MD, said. “It’s my honor to partner with UnityPoint Health CNO Sarah Brown in leading care delivery at UnityPoint Health, and we are extremely proud of all our nursing leaders who were recognized.”

The UnityPoint Health nursing leaders recognized include:

Sarah Brown, MSN, RN, CENP, NEA-BC, CAVRN, UnityPoint Health SVP and System CNO (West Des Moines, Iowa)

As UnityPoint Health’s chief nursing leader, Brown has played a pivotal role in developing a virtual nursing program that reimagines care delivery and supports staff retention. She has shared her insights from this experience broadly, aiming to help develop a best practices framework for virtual nursing initiatives. Under her leadership, UnityPoint Health became one of the first organizations nationwide to credential certified acute-care virtual registered nurses, showcasing the team’s capability to provide high-quality care in both physical and virtual settings. Brown joined UnityPoint Health in 2007 at Allen Hospital in Waterloo, as an ICU registered nurse. She later served as vice president and chief nursing executive for UnityPoint Health - Waterloo and as regional ambulatory vice president for UnityPoint Clinic in Waterloo.

Kristin McVay, MSN, MHA, RN, CNO of UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)

McVay assumed the role of CNO at UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids in November, bringing two decades of progressive leadership experience within the organization. She began her career at UnityPoint Health in 2005 as a registered nurse on the orthopedics unit, building a strong foundation in bedside care and team-based practice. Over the years, she advanced through a series of increasingly senior leadership roles, including managing surgical units and overseeing primary care operations across the Cedar Rapids region. Most recently, she served as director of surgical services, where she led operational performance, quality initiatives and multidisciplinary collaboration. As CNO, she is focused on advancing clinical outcomes and strengthening the nursing workforce.

Sherry Casali, RN, Former CNO of UnityPoint Health – Meriter (Madison, Wis.)

Casali was also recognized for her more than 35 years of nursing and leadership experience, including successfully managing the child and adolescent psychiatry and emergency services program. During her tenure, her efforts in enhancing patient satisfaction and care quality led to UnityPoint Health–Meriter earning the “Outstanding Patient Experience” award from Healthgrades for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Casali also played a pivotal role in fostering a successful relationship with SEIU Wisconsin, promoting a balance between patient and nursing needs. The Becker's Hospital Review editorial team accepted nominations to compile this list. The full list features individual profiles of all CNOs on the list.

The Becker's Hospital Review editorial team accepted nominations to compile this list. The full list features individual profiles of all CNOs on the list.