Maria D'Souza

Highly organized, detail-oriented registered nurse and healthcare executive with 16+ years of leadership across complex, highly regulated health systems, specializing in maternal, neonatal, and enterprise clinical operations. Recognized for identifying business needs and translating them into clinical, operational, and technology-driven solutions that support organizational performance and patient outcomes. Expertise includes clinical transformation, EHR optimization, regulatory readiness, workflow redesign, and data-driven performance and quality improvement.

Proven record delivering zero-deficiency designations, AACN Beacon Gold recognition, and enterprise operational improvements through cross-functional leadership, analytics, and technology-enabled care delivery. DNP-prepared leader who converts clinical insight into scalable operational, technology, and quality strategies aligned with evolving healthcare business priorities.

Administrative Director of Nursing – Women, Infant & Children - Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital – Harris Health System - Houston, TX

(2021-01 - 2025-01)

Senior nursing and clinical leader providing real-time clinical and operational insight to support customers through technology adoption and transition, ensuring regulatory alignment, quality measurement, and performance benchmarking, while translating clinical experience into workflow and product guidance that drives implementation support, clinician adoption, supports organizational change, and delivers measurable client success, user experience improvement, and outcomes realization.

• Managed health-system finance including account management, expense reports, budgeting, staffing costs, utilization analysis, variance analysis, and risk mitigation improving productivity by 40%
• Developed comprehensive statistical reports and graphs from program files, enhancing data visualization and facilitating informed decision-making post implementation within 3 months.
• Inpatient and outpatient medical record review, diagnosis validation, procedure accuracy, coding compliance, SOI, ROM
• Produced data-driven insights and executive-level recommendations through clinical assessments, documentation audits, stakeholder interviews, benchmarking, and workflow analysis, enabling achievement of state and national designations (Maternal Level III, Neonatal Designation, Baby-Friendly USA, Beacon Award) with minimal or zero deficiencies.
• Independently developed and pitched improvement initiatives, communicating results to leadership and stakeholders in a timely manner to support informed decision-making and operational performance improvement.

Director of Nursing / Neonatal Program Manager– NICU, High Risk Nursery, Newborn Nursery - Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital – Harris Health System - Houston, TX

(2012-01 - 2021-01)

Self-motivated, customer service–focused director-level nursing leader who manages and coordinates consultative clinical operations across neonatal services, demonstrating strong attention to detail and commitment to business ethics. Applies KPIs, quality and safety metrics, workforce management, regulatory compliance, and prototype workflow design to align client objectives, support adoption of new solutions, and achieve sustained regulatory readiness and measurable value-based outcomes.

• Led initiatives to improve product operations, ensuring all team members were well-versed in product knowledge, which contributed to a 25% reduction in troubleshooting time within 3 months.
• Managed patient monitoring system initiatives by supporting product deployment, collaborating with sales teams, and maintaining customer accounts to drive adoption, optimize system performance, and strengthen client relationships.

Nurse Manager – High Risk Nursery - Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital – Harris Health System - Houston, TX

(2011-01 - 2012-01)

Nurse Manager overseeing high-acuity perinatal operations, driving staffing, financial stewardship, and quality performance, and leveraging creative problem-solving to inform clinical road maps and product development that improve workflows, clinician experience, and patient outcomes.

• Oversaw project management for planning, logistics, and resourcing, ensuring accountability, supply control, regulatory compliance, and efficient, high-quality unit operations.
• Oversaw planning, logistics, and resource coordination to ensure safe, efficient unit operations.
• Prepared and managed high-volume business correspondence using email and Microsoft Outlook, ensuring timely communication, accurate documentation, and professional stakeholder engagement.

Nurse Manager – Neonatal Intensive Care Unit - The Woman's Hospital of Texas - Houston, TX

(2002-01 - 2011-01)

Nurse Manager overseeing Neonatal Intensive Care Unit operations with accountability for regulatory compliance, policy enforcement, staffing management, quality metrics, budget oversight, and expansion initiatives. Led user education, technology solutions, and system deployment efforts, guiding multidisciplinary teams through measured performance improvement, change management, and continuous regulatory readiness.

• Led consulting-style initiatives executing data analysis, analytics, and reviews to draw insights and support performance improvement across neonatal operations.
• Utilized monitoring, data review, written communication, and verbal communication skills to oversee clinical documentation, performance metrics, and staff competencies; developed written reports, policies, education materials, and audit findings to support quality improvement, staff engagement, and technology-enabled clinical operations.
• Led a collaborative initiative, effectively managing time, prioritizing project milestones, and partnering with interdisciplinary collaborators to streamline clinical workflows, ensuring deliverables were completed on schedule and improving patient care outcomes within six months.

Certificate - Generative AI Data analyst - University of Texas Arlington (2026-01)

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) - Nursing - Aspen University (2023-01 - 2023-01)

Dual Degree - MSN/MHA - University of Phoenix (2009-01 - 2009-01)

Bachelor of Science - Nursing - L.T. College of Nursing, SNDT University