When Centra Lynchburg General Hospital and Virginia Baptist Hospital’s Chief Nursing Officer, Anna Cazes, first entered the workforce, she never imagined she would dedicate her life to healthcare. Today, 31 years later, she can’t imagine doing anything else. Her journey from a young nursing student working shifts at McDonald’s to a seasoned leader shaping the future of nursing is characterized by the positive influence of others in her own life.
Reflecting on her career, Anna attributes her success to the mentors who guided her early on. “I had a rich clinical background because of great mentors throughout the years,” she shared. “Now, I hope to share my experiences with the nurses I lead and continue mentoring the future of nursing. It’s incredibly rewarding to watch staff grow in this profession.”
Anna’s path to leadership began as a Nursing Director at the inner-city campus of Baton Rouge General. Her ability to drive positive outcomes—both in quality and financial measures—quickly earned her a promotion to Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) of the system. Though unfamiliar with the full scope of a CNO’s responsibilities at the time, Anna embraced the challenge, focusing on strengthening the nursing workforce.
Her career took another turn when she became chief operating officer at a new organization. It was there that she faced one of her biggest challenges: rebuilding the campus after they faced Hurricane Laura in 2020. The experience reinforced her resilience and prepared her for the next chapter of her life—moving to the East Coast to join Centra.
At Centra, Anna has been inspired by the eagerness of its leaders to continually learn and improve. “Healthcare, specifically nursing, allows you to extend yourself to provide care to the community,” she explained. “What I’ve seen at Centra is a commitment from our leaders to learn in order to go above and beyond to deliver the best patient care.”
Among her favorite memories at Centra is achieving the system’s fifth Magnet designation—a testament to nursing excellence and innovation. She credits this milestone to the dedication of the entire team, whose hard work and passion make such achievements possible.
Outside of her professional life, Anna finds joy in the simple pleasures of connecting with her family. “I enjoy FaceTiming my daughter and grandson every night,” she shared.
From her early days balancing nursing school with shifts at McDonald’s to navigating the complexities of executive leadership, Anna’s story is one of adaptability and commitment to others. Her message to those starting their nursing careers is clear: mentorship, teamwork and a passion for service can pave the way for an extraordinary journey.
