Deanna Cooper Gillingham is a nationally recognized expert in case management and nurse career development. With more than 25 years of experience as a Registered Nurse and Board-Certified Case Manager, she has dedicated her career to advancing the field of case management and mentoring healthcare professionals transitioning from bedside to leadership roles. As the CEO of Case Management Institute, she develops innovative curricula, educational resources, and training programs used by case managers nationwide.
Education
Associate of Applied Science, Westmoreland County Community College (1994)
Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society
Dean’s List & President’s List Honors
Licenses & Certifications
Registered Nurse – State of Florida
Certified Case Manager (CCM)
Fellow in Case Management (FCM)
Professional Experience
CEO & Curriculum Development Expert, Case Management Institute, LLC (2016–Present)
Transplant Case Manager, Optum (2014–2016)
Case Manager, Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina (2011–2014)
Hospice Case Manager, Medical Services of America (2010–2011)
Interim Case Manager, WBJ Dorn VA Medical Center (2010)
Hospice Case Manager, In Home Health (1999–2000)
Selected Publications
CCM Certification Made Easy: Your Guide to Passing the Certified Case Manager Exam (4th Edition, 2025)
Foundations of Case Management: A Practical Guide for RNs Transitioning from Nurse to Case Manager (2021)
Annual Case Management Salary & Trends Survey (2018–2024)
Speaking & Media
Deanna is a sought-after speaker at national conferences including CMSA, MCG Client Forum, and NNBA events. She has been featured on Minority Nurse, The Nurse Keith Show, The Stay at Home Nurse Podcast, Good Nurse Bad Nurse Podcast and more.
Multiple Bravo and STAR Awards for Performance and Collaboration
Membership & Leadership
Vice Chair, CMSA Membership Committee (2022–2024)
Board of Directors, CMSA Foundation (2016–2018)
Board of Advisors, HomeCare2Go (2020–2021)
Member, National Nurses in Business Association
Volunteer Work
Deanna has served on the Board of Directors of Playa del Carmen Seaside Rotary and volunteered as an RN Case Manager for medical missions and community health programs.
Deanna Cooper Gillingham is a nationally recognized expert in case management and nurse career development. With more than 25 years of experience as a Registered Nurse and Board-Certified Case Manager, she has dedicated her career to advancing the field of case management and mentoring healthcare professionals transitioning from bedside to leadership roles. As the CEO of Case Management Institute, she develops innovative curricula, educational resources, and training programs used by case managers nationwide.