Renu Singh, Leader in UR Nursing's Financial Success and Wellness Initiatives, Retires from Associate Dean Role

Renu Singh, MS, senior associate dean of finance and operations, retired from her role in December after more than 20 years of leadership at the School of Nursing. She will remain at the School as chief executive officer of the UR Medicine Employee Wellness Program.

As an associate dean, Singh bolstered the school’s financial health and success, oversaw its central administrative teams, and served as a senior advisor to three nursing deans. In 2018, she was named a ‘Woman of Excellence’ by the Rochester Business Journal for her career accomplishments, community involvement, leadership, and commitment to mentoring.

Singh also led the development and implementation of the UR Medicine Employee Wellness Program as part of the School’s practice mission. Launched in 2012, the nurse-led program was designed to provide comprehensive wellness services to University of Rochester employees and has since achieved the highest engagement rates for program participation in university history. Today, the program serves employees at more than 70 organizations in the region and continues to result in significant reductions in health risk and sustained improvement in outcomes.

Most recently, Singh drove efforts to launch the UR Nursing Scholars program — a first-of-its-kind program which offers 100 percent tuition coverage for students in the Accelerated Bachelor’s in Nursing program with guaranteed employment at select UR Medicine hospitals.

“Throughout her time at the school, Renu’s visionary leadership has been the bedrock of the school’s success,” said School of Nursing Dean Lisa Kitko, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN. “Her commitment to offering evidence-based wellness programs has transformed the lives of countless individuals and enhanced the well-being of our community.”

Kitko also praised Singh’s guidance as an advisor, which has shaped the School’s vision and direction.

“Her wisdom as a senior advisor was invaluable in my first year as dean. Her insights have been instrumental in shaping our strategic planning, program development, and the thoughtful monitoring of our mission-based performance metrics.”

Prior to joining the School of Nursing, Singh worked as associate director of contract management at the University of Rochester Medical Center’s managed care organization, and as an ambulatory operations administrator for Strong Memorial Hospital.

After a brief pause in her health care career to stay home and raise her sons, Singh returned to URMC when Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President Kathy Parrinello, RN, PhD, encouraged her to interview for an associate dean role at the School of Nursing just a few months into her time away.

Hesitant to resume working, Singh didn’t think she’d take the role at first. However, she felt drawn to the School of Nursing’s warm, positive work environment, and the opportunity to utilize her expertise in health care management.

She took on the role while raising her two young sons, who seamlessly became part of the UR Nursing family. Early on in her role, Singh remembers bringing her sons to work on their days off from time to time, setting up sleeping bags and pillows near her desk, and wheeling in a TV cart for them to watch Barney & Friends with help from the IT team.

Singh’s role at the School of Nursing also strengthened her admiration for the nursing profession and its potential to impact the community. That passion has been reflected in her work to develop the CEW, where registered nurses lead its wellness coaching, education, screenings and more.

“When you or a loved one become a patient, you truly start to understand nurses’ impact, importance, and contributions. That makes me very proud to be part of the School of Nursing.”

Singh’s dedication to improving health outcomes has extended to the wider community, through her leadership and volunteer work with the Mary Cariola Children’s Center, the United Way Women’s Association, and the Singh Family Foundation, an organization founded by her parents that provides education and health services to underprivileged girls in a rural area of India.

Singh feels optimistic about the School’s continued success as she steps down from her associate dean role.

“I look forward to spending more time with my family and loved ones, and I can do that confidently because the school is in great hands and has a bright future ahead. The faith I have in this school has made my transition easier,” Singh said.

“I am proud to have had a hand in developing new talent and bringing younger people up,” she added. “Being a leader is not just about creating businesses and running companies; it is about recognizing and growing talent in others. My most admired leaders have been those who value people and bring the best out in others.”

After championing wellness initiatives at UR Medicine for several years, Singh plans to devote more time to her own wellness. She looks forward to living an active, healthy lifestyle; spending quality time with her husband and sons, visiting her relatives in India more often, taking up new sports like golf and tennis, and catching up with close friends.

John Eaves, MBA, UR Nursing’s chief financial officer and former director of finance, will serve as interim associate dean for operations and finance. Eaves brings a decade of experience in financial planning, and earned his master’s in business administration from the Simon Business School at the University of Rochester.

“John's dedication and familiarity with our financial landscape make him a reliable choice during this transition,” Dean Lisa Kitko said. “His insights as our CFO have been invaluable in financial reporting, budgeting, and strategic planning across our education, research, practice, and administrative functions.”