Senior Director of Clinical Operations Surgical & Procedural Services
Tampa General Hospital
Lutz, Florida, United States
Dr. Yessenia V. Salgado is a distinguished healthcare leader with more than 20 years of nursing experience, specializing in perioperative services, patient safety, and clinical operations. She currently serves as Senior Director of Clinical Operations for Surgical Services at Tampa General Hospital (TGH), where she advances surgical excellence, operational efficiency, and nursing leadership within a leading academic health system.
Dr. Salgado began her career at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and later transitioned into patient safety leadership at Mount Sinai Hospital, serving as Clinical Program Manager of Patient Safety and a TeamSTEPPS Master Trainer. She joined Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in 2010 and again in 2016, ultimately serving as Director of Perioperative Nursing for the main campus. Her leadership contributions included perioperative clinical construction for MSK’s Pavilion Tower, EPIC perioperative system development, and enterprise operational excellence initiatives.
She holds an Associate Degree in Nursing from Phillips Beth Israel School of Nursing, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Master of Science in Nursing Leadership from Regis University, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Villanova University. She is dual-certified as a Nurse Executive (NE-BC) and a Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR).
A recognized thought leader in perioperative nursing and surgical safety, Dr. Salgado has presented nationally at AORN Congress and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and published in the American Journal of Medical Quality, AORN Journal, OR Excellence, and Outpatient Surgery. She remains deeply committed to innovation, collaboration, and excellence in surgical services, shaping best practices and developing future healthcare leaders.
Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
3014 - Leading with Precision: AORN Meets AONL Core Competencies
Saturday, April 11, 2026
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM CST