Cidalia J. Vital, PhD, RN, CNL, CRRN is the Director of Nursing Research & Holistic at Baystate Health, where she leads strategic initiatives to advance nursing science, evidence-based practice, and interdisciplinary innovation across a four-hospital system. Since assuming the role in 2022, Dr. Vital has expanded Baystate’s nursing research portfolio from zero to over 16 active studies, secured more than $150,000 in competitive research funding, and played a pivotal role in achieving Magnet 5 designation.

A visionary leader and educator, Dr. Vital has cultivated high-impact partnerships, including a Nursing Research Fellowship Program with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She also serves as a lecturer and research liaison at the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing and the Center for Nursing and Engineering Innovation (EMCNEI) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she earned her PhD in Nursing.

Her research spans smart pump technology, holistic interventions, and nurse-engineer collaboration. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and presented nationally on topics such as IV infusion safety, nursing resilience, and innovation culture. Recognized for her leadership and scholarship, Dr. Vital has received multiple awards, including the 2025 Community Partner Award from UMass and the 2024 Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award from Baystate Health. Her work continues to shape the future of nursing through inquiry, compassion, and innovation.