Director of Patient Care
Emory University Hospital
Shyrel Thomas serves as the Director of Patient Care Services at Emory University Hospital, overseeing the Operating Room, Preoperative Holding Area (POHA), Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), and Sterile Processing Department (SPD). With over 23 years of nursing experience, Shyrel brings a wealth of clinical and leadership expertise across diverse care settings, including perioperative services, telemetry, home care, and medical-surgical nursing.
A certified perioperative nurse (CNOR) and Cerified Nurse Executive, (NEA-BC), Shyrel is known for her strategic leadership and commitment to operational excellence, patient safety, and staff development. She has led numerous initiatives to streamline surgical workflows, enhance interdisciplinary communication, and implement evidence-based practices that improve patient outcomes.
Shyrel’ s leadership was instrumental during the hospital’s transition to a new electronic health record system, where she championed training and support systems to ensure continuity of care and compliance with updated protocols. Her dedication to fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration continues to drive innovation and quality improvement across perioperative services.