Dr. Franz Henryk A. Vergara, PhD, DNP, MAS, RN, CENP, CCM, ONC, FAAN, is the Senior Director of Nursing Operations and Patient Care Services at MedStar Harbor Hospital, a Magnet designated hospital and Leapfrog A facility in Baltimore, Maryland. A nationally recognized nurse leader and scientist, he brings expertise in healthcare operations, clinical excellence, and systems innovation.
Over the course of his career, Dr. Vergara has held pivotal leadership roles at major healthcare institutions, including Assistant Chief Nursing Officer at HCA Florida Healthcare, Director of Clinical Operations at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital, and Orthopaedic Nurse Manager at WellStar Cobb Hospital. He also held progressive clinical and administrative positions at the Johns Hopkins Health System, where he helped lead initiatives to improve care quality, patient safety, and operational performance.
Dr. Vergara’s research focuses on care transitions and improving patient outcomes, with multiple peer-reviewed publications. A respected voice in orthopedic nursing, he has been actively involved with the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses (NAON) for over 18 years, including service as a national Director on its Executive Board. He also serves on the Editorial Board of the Professional Case Management Journal.
Dr. Vergara earned a dual doctorate (PhD/DNP) from the Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College, a Master of Applied Science from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, recognized for his contributions to nursing leadership, workforce development, and transformative patient care.