Full Name
Raquel Parisi
Job Title
Chief Nursing Officer
Company
St. Mary's Healthcare
Speaker Bio
Raquel “Rocky” Parisi, MSN, RN, CNO, VP of Nursing, St. Mary’s Healthcare.
From her early days as a tray passer in the dietary department during high school, Raquel “Rocky” Parisi has built a healthcare career defined by progressive advancement and expanded leadership. Today, she proudly serves as Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Nursing at St. Mary’s Healthcare.
Her diverse healthcare background spans medical-surgical acute care nursing operations, regulatory compliance and readiness, quality improvement, education, nursing administration, and serving as adjunct nursing faculty. As a leader within the region’s largest employer, Rocky believes in the responsibility to uplift communities—empowering health, fostering innovation, and cultivating a culture of compassion and service.
She is passionate about inspiring conscious work, promoting holistic well-being, nurturing authentic relationships, and leading mission-driven philanthropy that supports lives across the care continuum. In alignment with the Catholic healthcare tradition and the legacy of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, she leads with a commitment to compassion, human dignity, and stewardship.
Beyond nursing, Rocky’s passion for wellness and personal transformation led her to become a certified yoga instructor. She opened her own yoga studio, developed teacher trainings, and co-created a leadership course and syllabus with a New York Times bestselling author of 40 Days to Personal Revolution. Through this work, she has helped certify over 250 yoga teachers across five continents in facilitating personal revolution programs.
In 2021, she completed training as a Health and Nutrition Coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Rocky also holds a master’s degree in nursing leadership from Walden University. Her recent accolades include the 2023 Mohawk Valley Nurses Association Ellen Burns Leadership Award and the 2023 New York State Legislature Women of Distinction Award. She is especially proud of completing her first half marathon in Brooklyn.
From her early days as a tray passer in the dietary department during high school, Raquel “Rocky” Parisi has built a healthcare career defined by progressive advancement and expanded leadership. Today, she proudly serves as Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Nursing at St. Mary’s Healthcare.
Her diverse healthcare background spans medical-surgical acute care nursing operations, regulatory compliance and readiness, quality improvement, education, nursing administration, and serving as adjunct nursing faculty. As a leader within the region’s largest employer, Rocky believes in the responsibility to uplift communities—empowering health, fostering innovation, and cultivating a culture of compassion and service.
She is passionate about inspiring conscious work, promoting holistic well-being, nurturing authentic relationships, and leading mission-driven philanthropy that supports lives across the care continuum. In alignment with the Catholic healthcare tradition and the legacy of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, she leads with a commitment to compassion, human dignity, and stewardship.
Beyond nursing, Rocky’s passion for wellness and personal transformation led her to become a certified yoga instructor. She opened her own yoga studio, developed teacher trainings, and co-created a leadership course and syllabus with a New York Times bestselling author of 40 Days to Personal Revolution. Through this work, she has helped certify over 250 yoga teachers across five continents in facilitating personal revolution programs.
In 2021, she completed training as a Health and Nutrition Coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Rocky also holds a master’s degree in nursing leadership from Walden University. Her recent accolades include the 2023 Mohawk Valley Nurses Association Ellen Burns Leadership Award and the 2023 New York State Legislature Women of Distinction Award. She is especially proud of completing her first half marathon in Brooklyn.
Speaking At
