Tammy Powers, BSN, MBA-HCM, CEO of Sutter Roseville Medical Center, WSU ICNE 1997, has always embodied the mission-driven spirit of Coug nursing. Now as CEO of Sutter Roseville Medical Center, she leads a 928,000-square-foot acute-care facility serving Northern California. With 382 licensed beds, the center offers high-level services including a Level II Trauma Center, a Level III NICU, and one of the region’s largest rehabilitation facilities.
A proud WSU Nursing alum, Tammy fondly remembers her time at the Intercollegiate College of Nursing (ICNE), where students from WSU, EWU, Whitworth and the community colleges joined forces.
“We didn’t start our college careers together, but we came together and supported each other – it made us stronger. Our clinical group became a core study team that helped each other through nursing school.”
Although Tammy initially considered following her father’s path into accounting, her trajectory changed after witnessing servant leadership in action at Deaconess Hospital by her NICU leader; “She showed me the power of authentic servant leadership and that moment shaped my career.” Tammy embraced every opportunity to grow, serving in roles from Service Line Executive, Chief Nursing Executive to Chief Administrative Officer at a community-based hospital prior to transitioning into the CEO role at Sutter Roseville. Through each role, she built credibility, drove change, and created environments where every employee could thrive.
Tammy’s nursing foundation remains at the core of her leadership philosophy – centered on empathy, trust, and compassion. “I have the honor of taking care of the people who care for our community. That’s my focus as a leader.” She credits mentors and colleagues for preparing her for the CEO role and emphasizes that strong leadership is a team sport. “Leaders don’t always have all the answers. I’ve learned to rely on a trusted team to make educated decisions together.”
Tammy encourages WSU nursing students to make the most of local learning opportunities and lean into new challenges. “The Spokane nursing community has so many ways to train and learn. I encourage Coug Nurses to try every opportunity that is presented to them and seek out learning opportunities that challenge you. Nursing is flexible – your journey can take many forms.”
