Vice president of real estate announced for VCU Health System
Recognized for her strong advocacy for patients and team members, Shirley Gibson receives promotion to new leadership role.
March 20, 2025
Shirley Gibson, DNP, MSHA, RN, FACHE, is the vice president of real estate for VCU Health System. (Enterprise Marketing and Communications)
By Pete Woody
Shirley Gibson, DNP, MSHA, RN, FACHE, has been promoted to the position of vice president of real estate for VCU Health System.
This leadership position leads the development and oversight of VCU Health’s real estate strategy and is responsible for managing all aspects of real estate acquisitions and lease portfolios. The vice president of real estate works collaboratively across the health system as well as with external stakeholders and community leaders to build support and partnerships to enhance our real estate endeavors.
In her new role, Gibson will provide insight and recommendations for both short-term and long-term initiatives while ensuring alignment with the VCU Health mission and vision. Gibson has served the health system with distinction in a variety of leadership roles thanks to her strong advocacy for patients and team members. Her continued work towards the development of high-reliability systems will be an excellent fit for her new position.
Before her promotion, Gibson served as the health system’s vice president of support services and planning. She was responsible for overseeing the new construction for outpatient and inpatient facilities and also served as the liaison for public safety with the VCU chief of police.
Prior to her support services role, Gibson served in nursing leadership positions for the health system, first as vice president of nursing for three years before advancing to associate vice president of nursing for eight years. She was also a faculty and administrative residency program coordinator in the Department of Health Administration for Virginia Commonwealth University’s College of Health Professions graduate program for six years.
Gibson is currently a member of the Virginia Society of Health Care Engineers, the American College of Healthcare Executives and the American Nurses Association. She serves on the VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital Foundation, the Board of Trustees of the Valentine Museum, and chairs the VCU Health Facilities Committee.
Her work has been honored with numerous awards throughout her career, including the Rao R. Ivatury Award for contributions to the VCU Health System Trauma Program in 2017, the first-ever VCU Health System DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019, and the VCU Health Administration Alumni Association Lifetime Service Award in 2024. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees in health care administration from VCU before earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice in nursing administration from American Sentinel College.
