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HealthForce Kentucky Appoints Bruce Williams as New CEO/COO to Lead Healthcare Workforce Development Initiative

by Bernie Hale

Owensboro, KY (03/04/2025) — Released on behalf of HealthForce Kentucky.

HealthForce Kentucky has announced the appointment of Bruce R. Williams, MSN, MS, RN, CHSOS, CHSE, as its new Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Williams brings over three decades of diverse nursing experience and more than 20 years of simulation education expertise to this pivotal leadership role.

In his new position, Williams will oversee all operational activities of HealthForce Kentucky and its simulation center. This public-private partnership is designed to address healthcare workforce shortages across a 16-county region. The initiative aims to create stronger pathways from secondary to post-secondary education and increase educational and training capacity for healthcare professionals.

HealthForce Kentucky includes a 35,000-square-foot facility in Owensboro, Kentucky, currently under renovation to house high-technologyfidelity simulation labs, classrooms, and a medical lab. This facility will be available for use by all participating educational partners to supplement in-school programming and experiences. Additionally, HealthForce Kentucky operates two mobile labs - HealthForce 1 and HealthForce 2 delivering these same technologies throughout the region.

"HealthForce Kentucky has grown to the level where it was time to take the next step and name a Chief Executive/Chief Operating Officer," said Bart Darrell, Chancellor of HealthForce Kentucky. "I was pleased that our committee recommended Bruce Williams for the position. There are few, if any, healthcare education simulation experts in the country who can match Bruce's experience, passion, and training."

Dr. Scott Williams, Chair of the HealthForce Kentucky Board, expressed confidence in the appointment: "Bruce Williams brings a remarkable combination of clinical expertise, simulation technology knowledge, and organizational leadership that perfectly positions him to advance our mission. His proven track record of building innovative healthcare education programs will be instrumental as we work to address critical workforce shortages across our region. The Board is excited to support his vision for expanding HealthForce Kentucky's impact."

Williams joins HealthForce Kentucky with impressive credentials, including dual master's degrees in Nursing from the University of Southern Indiana and Occupational Safety and Management from Indiana State University. His professional experience spans academia, critical care transport, and pediatrics, complemented by specialized expertise in simulation education and operations.

Most recently, Williams served as Director of Simulation at HealthForce Kentucky, where he initiated simulation activities across the region. In this role, he designed and oversaw the construction of a mobile simulation unit, HealthForce 2, and is currently leading the transformation of a former big-box grocery store into the HealthForce Kentucky Innovation Center.

His prior experience includes leadership positions at Texas A&M University, where he supervised 24 full-time employees across six clinical learning resource sites with an annual volume of 27,000 student contacts and 86,000 contact hours. While there, he managed a $3.8 million budget and expanded staffing from 17 to 25.5 full-time employees in just two years.

Williams also served as Director of Simulation at Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital, where he played a key role in designing and building the 45,000-square-foot William K. Nasser, MD Healthcare Education and Simulation Center & Ruth Lilly Conference Center.

In his new leadership role, Williams will develop and implement a strategic vision for HealthForce Kentucky, manage budgets, supervise all employees, and serve as a liaison with the organization's Board of Directors. He will also work with educational and community partners on resource development and outreach initiatives.

The position, currently grant-funded through December 2026, requires Williams to apply his extensive experience in healthcare simulation, project management, and organizational leadership to the critical challenge of addressing healthcare workforce shortages.

Williams holds multiple professional certifications, including Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator and Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist. He maintains current nursing licenses in Kentucky and Indiana multi-state nursing license in Kentucky and has previously held numerous additional certifications ranging from Advanced Cardiac Life Support to Emergency Medical Technician.

His appointment represents a significant step forward for HealthForce Kentucky as it continues to develop innovative solutions to strengthen the healthcare workforce pipeline throughout the region.

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