Kristen Oakes
Manager of Strategic Projects and Programs
HCA Healthcare Research Institute
Kristen Oakes serves as Manager of Strategic Projects and Programs at HCA Healthcare Research Institute, where she oversees major initiatives in partnership with senior leadership and clinical communications. Her expertise spans strategic project management, executive communications, onboarding, and coordinating all-hands meetings. With over 12 years of experience in strategic communication and project management, Kristen began her career in Nashville, driving a music festival’s attendance growth to 52,000 in three years. As Senior Event Manager at Tennessee Performing Arts Center, she oversaw 800+ annual events across four venues. Joining HCA Healthcare in 2022, Kristen has been instrumental in launching clinical research communication guidelines, collaborating with public relations and ethics teams to enhance storytelling around HCA’s research. Kristen earned a Bachelor of Music in Commercial Voice from Belmont University and continues to bring her innovative leadership to healthcare and research initiatives.