Tia Newell, MSN, 
Interim Chief Nurse Executive
Watson Caring Science Institute Caritas Coach®
Caritas Colleague
Healing begins with human connection.
For Tia Newell, nursing has never been simply a profession, it is a calling rooted in presence, compassion, and the sacred privilege of caring for others. She believes every interaction is an opportunity to either diminish or restore another person’s humanity. Whether caring for a patient, mentoring a nurse, or supporting a fellow leader, her purpose remains the same: to ensure people feel seen, heard, valued, and genuinely cared for.
With more than 17 years in nursing and over a decade of progressive leadership within Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Tia has dedicated her career to advancing nursing excellence while cultivating environments where caregivers can flourish. She currently serves as the Interim Chief Nurse Executive at Kaiser Permanente Vallejo, where she partners with physicians, operational leaders, and frontline teams to advance quality, safety, workforce well-being, and equitable care. Throughout her leadership journey, she has remained committed to developing others, believing that the greatest measure of leadership is not what we accomplish ourselves, but the lives we inspire and empower.
As a Caritas Coach Faculty member, Tia considers it both a privilege and a responsibility to help leaders reconnect with the heart of nursing. She believes Caring Science is not an initiative or framework, it is a way of being. Through reflective practice, authentic presence, and intentional relationships, she helps leaders cultivate healing environments where compassion and accountability coexist, resilience is strengthened, and human dignity remains at the center of every decision. She believes transformational leadership begins by caring for ourselves, caring for one another, and creating the conditions for others to thrive.
Tia earned both her Bachelor and Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas at Arlington and is board certified as a Nurse Executive Advanced (NEA-BC). She is currently pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice at the University of California, San Francisco. She is passionate about mentoring graduate nursing students and developing the next generation of nurse leaders who will shape the future of healthcare with courage, compassion, and purpose.
Outside of healthcare, Tia’s greatest joy comes from her faith, her husband, and their daughter. She believes personal well-being is foundational to meaningful leadership and is passionate about helping others become rooted in purpose, aligned with their values, and confident in the unique gifts they bring to the world.
“Patients deserve care teams, not silos. Nurses deserve healing spaces within healing environments. When we care for the caregiver, we don't just change healthcare, we change lives.”