07/21/2026
Dr. Shakyryn Napier, DHSc, RN, CPN, NEA-BC, built her career one step at a time — balancing nursing school, motherhood, and work while never losing sight of her goals. Today, she serves as Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services at UPMC Horizon and UPMC Jameson.
After beginning her nursing education close to home in western Pennsylvania, Shakyryn built a diverse career spanning labor and delivery, psychiatry, medical-surgical care, emergency medicine, and nursing leadership before returning to the community where her journey began.
At UPMC, Shakyryn found opportunities to continue learning, growing, and advancing while balancing the realities of work and family. She earned her bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees while building a career dedicated to caring for others.
Her people-first leadership philosophy reflects what UPMC is all about: investing in our people so they can thrive professionally and personally.
For nurses wondering if they're ready for the next step, Shakyryn offers this advice: "Give yourself grace. Sometimes we kind of close our own doors by being so hard on ourselves. Everybody is not at the same starting point. Sometimes, we have to start from where we are."
Wherever you are in your nursing journey, UPMC provides the support and opportunities to help you grow.
Because your future in nursing isn't defined by where you start — it's shaped by where you're willing to go.