Meet the CNO of Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital – Dr. Larry Kidd

Dr. Larry Kidd is the Senior VP Chief Clinical Officer and Chief Nurse Executive at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital. He has worked at the hospital since 2008, and adopted his dual position within the last few years. He has oversight over all nursing and clinical operations in the hospital, from nursing to pharmacy to physical therapy and everywhere in between; as well as about 75% of the education and training programs. Safety is Dr. Kidd’s main priority: and by “establishing quality and service goals [and] ensuring competency and training of staff,” safety is maintained. Prior to his current position, he was Henry Mayo’s Vice President and Senior Vice President, he also worked in other hospitals as Chief Operating Officer, VP for patient care services, and a healthcare consultant.
Dr. Kidd is originally from Birmingham, Alabama, but has spent most of his adult life in California. His interest in the medical field sprouted in high school when he took a health occupations elective and volunteered in a local hospital. He earned his Bachelor’s in Nursing from The University of Alabama, his Master’s and Doctorate from the University of San Francisco, and his Doctorate of Health Administration from the Medical University of South Carolina, among other certifications along the way.
In his free time, Dr. Kidd enjoys travelling, attending live concerts, and visiting museums. With limited options during ‘quarantine,’ his main recreation has been reading along with his book club. He has many nieces, nephews and other family members scattered about the country that he connects with, as well.
If he could see himself in any other occupation, Dr. Kidd would be working as a professor of both health administration and leadership. “I consider myself a teacher already,” he says, as he mentors many Henry Mayo staff members and college students on a regular work day; “…professor would be a more formal setting. My training and experience would [contribute] to developing future leaders in healthcare.”
It takes a village to care for a patient, and Dr. Kidd couldn’t do it without the support of all his Henry Mayo staff. His favorite part of the job?: “Seeing the work that we do [with patients and families] and the improvements that result from our care.” The most taxing piece for Dr. Kidd and his essential co-workers are the legal aspects of running a hospital, “prioritizing resources” and making sure that requirements are maintained.
The hospital has made many necessary adjustments this year in response to the coronavirus pandemic. “Taking care of people is intimate,” says Dr. Kidd, and this intimacy has been difficult to achieve amidst the new changes. Even so, physical and technological adjustments have been made throughout the hospital to give healthcare workers and patients the quality of service that they deserve. And for anyone in the healthcare profession, Dr. Kidd advises you to “pursue what is in the best interest of your patients; you will always make the right decision.” 

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