An Informed Perspective Sets the Standard
Jennifer Brullo ’01C, ’03MBA has always sets high standards—and consistently exceeds them. Her inspiring rise from analyst to President and Chief Executive Officer of the Westchester Visiting Nurse Services Group, Inc. is testament to her abilities in business development and strategic operations.
Dedication to academic study is foundational to her success; she has earned a bachelor of science and a master of business administration degree from St. John’s University, as well as a doctorate in nursing practice from Duke University. “I really enjoy diving in and understanding the opportunities for positive change,” she said.
I didn't want to just be a nurse on paper. I wanted to obtain that clinical skill set.
Jennifer Brullo ’01C, ’03MBA has always sets high standards—and consistently exceeds them. Her inspiring rise from analyst to President and Chief Executive Officer of the Westchester Visiting Nurse Services Group, Inc. is testament to her abilities in business development and strategic operations.
Dedication to academic study is foundational to her success; she has earned a bachelor of science and a master of business administration degree from St. John’s University, as well as a doctorate in nursing practice from Duke University. “I really enjoy diving in and understanding the opportunities for positive change,” she said.
At St. John’s, she was named to the President’s Society, the college’s highest honor, and continues to achieve postgraduation. Awarded the 2024 McKnight Pinnacle “Setting the Standard” Award for Health Care Professionals, she led the Westchester Visting Nurse Service to achieve 4.5 stars, its highest CMS quality rating in the organization’s history.
Ms. Brullo’s training in management and health care, enhanced by hands-on clinical experience, informs her unique and thoughtful leadership style. She gains a deep understanding of all angles before implementing strategic solutions.
She credits Miguel Roig, Ph.D. ’81G, Professor, and Philip Drucker, Ph.D., Associate Professor, in the Department of Psychology as strong and supportive influences during her time at St. John’s, and Ralph A. Terregrossa, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Economics, who encouraged her to pursue graduate study in business. She fully immersed herself in extracurricular activities, including Greek life, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and the Stagers Society production group. Even then, she was quick to identify gaps; noticing that the campus lacked a Psychology Club and Honor Society, she founded them.
“I really tried to get the most out of my experience at St. John’s, and I was very involved on campus,” she recalled. “I have many lifelong friends that I met through my extracurricular activities.”
M.B.A. in hand, Ms. Brullo landed an initial position as an analyst at VNS Health, formerly known as the Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY). Rising quickly, she was promoted to manager in less than a year.
“I was able to make some very quick process changes in the organization where I noticed deficiencies, and they yielded very positive improvements for the organization,” she said.
After developing the organization’s first website and serving as marketing manager, she was named Director of Private Care Services, where again, she noticed a gap.
“Even though I wasn't responsible for making clinical decisions, I realized it would be very helpful if I had nursing experience so that I could understand the challenges,” she said.
Earning a nursing degree while working full time developed her informed perspective and helped her understand “what our clinicians were going through and also how to develop clinical strategy to better serve our patients.” Her depth of knowledge provided valuable insights.
“I didn’t want to just be a nurse on paper,” she explained. “I wanted to obtain that clinical skill set.”
Leading the Partners in Care division, a subsidiary of VNSNY, she was able to utilize the skills she had developed to quickly grow several business lines. In 2020, she provided vital leadership for the Home Health Agency division.
“We had a disengaged workforce because of COVID,” she recalled. “I am very big on being out in front of staff as a leader, having direct conversations, and understanding what challenges we are facing.”
Married to fellow alumnus Christopher Brullo ’97NDC, ’99C, Ms. Brullo advises students to be open to new career paths, admitting that “never in a million years did I think I was going to become a nurse!”
Her adaptability and leadership have not only improved her agency’s day-to-day operations, but have also shaped its long-term success. “In every role, I am focused on achieving goals and positioning my department and the organization for the greatest amount of success.”
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