Donna Ecclestone

Donna Ecclestone, CPRP is a recognized industry leader and sought-after speaker specializing  in physician and advanced practice provider (APP) onboarding and retention. With over 25 years of experience in healthcare recruitment and provider integration, she brings a strategic and results-driven approach to workforce engagement.

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Donna spent 12 years in medical staff recruitment before launching and leading Duke Health’s Provider Integration program for 13 years. Her team centralized and standardized onboarding initiatives across 16 clinical departments, earning recognition from The Joint Commission as a best practice model in 2016. In 2020, she expanded the program’s scope by developing a centralized offboarding process, further strengthening provider lifecycle management.

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As a thought leader, Donna co-developed AAPPR’s Certificate Program in Onboarding and Retention, launched in 2022, and has played a pivotal role in shaping industry standards. She served as a board member and education chair for AAPPR, contributed to the CPRP certification program, and led the creation of two key AAPPR shared interest groups—Academic In-House Recruiter Network (AIR) and Onboarding and Retention Network (OAR). Additionally, she has helped numerous healthcare organizations build, refine, and scale their onboarding programs to improve provider retention and engagement.

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Donna holds a Bachelor's in Marketing from Slippery Rock University, where her energy and enthusiasm were evident as the school mascot—traits that continue to define her career.

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Now, as the founder of Ecclestone Onboarding, Donna partners with healthcare organizations to ensure their onboarding experience makes a lasting, positive impact. Whether your organization is looking to build a new program, optimize an existing one, or modernize its approach, Ecclestone Onboarding delivers the expertise and strategies needed for long-term success.

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