Dr. Dietra L. Watson, DNP, MSN, RN an experienced executive leader, for over a decade of experience. Dr. Watson has led interdisciplinary teams across diverse settings including military, healthcare as well as administrative. Dr. Watson serves as a Commissioned Officer (Major) in the United States Air Force Reserves serving as the Officer in Command of Mental Health at the 445th Aeromedical Staging Squadron at Wright Patterson Air Force Base.

Dr. Watson has over 19 years of nursing experience with more than 17 years of that time spent in healthcare leadership. Her previous positions include: medical surgical nurse manager; behavioral health nurse; substance abuse nurse case manager; and coordinator of telehealth services. Dr. Watson has been instrumental in ensuring more than 17,000 patients receive virtual care services annually. Dr. Watson has become an expert in managing telehealth care across the health care continuum. She is consistently sought out by healthcare leaders and educational institutions as a subject matter expert with a specific focus on telehealth education, initiating telehealth programs, and expanding telehealth programs.  Dr. Watson has worked with interdisciplinary teams across diverse settings. She is a catalyst of innovation and has set into motion multiple regional virtual care specialty programs. Dr. Watson is also certified Master resiliency facilitator/trainer for the American Red Cross and United States Airforce. Dr. Watson has been invited to speak and has spoken at several national and statewide conferences. Dr. Watson is dedicated to holistic wellness and has applied her knowledge for creating virtual and in-person spaces that allow clients and their families the bridge needed to close gaps between providers and their clients. She continues to work closely with community partners to build coalitions that support safe spaces for those in need of access to specialty services.

 Dr. Watson received a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Cincinnati (2004). She earned a Master of Science in nursing informatics from the University of Phoenix (2014), United States Airforce Commissioned Officer School (2011) and Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Xavier University (May 2023). Dr. Watson is recognized by her peers and colleagues as a subject matter expert in virtual care service, holistic wellness, and professional development.