Wendy Lawson serves as the Executive Director of Operations at Mercy, where she leads the Coletta Cancer Center and oversees oncology services. Under her leadership, the Coletta Cancer Center has grown into one of the largest and most impactful cancer centers in the state of Oklahoma.
With a Master of Public Health focused in chronic disease epidemiology and a background as a licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner, Wendy brings over two decades of clinical and operational expertise to her role. She is nationally recognized for her advocacy and leadership in lung health and respiratory care.
Wendy has been a dedicated leader within the American Lung Association (ALA) since 2010, serving on the Oklahoma Leadership Board and chairing it during her tenure. She joined the Southwest Regional Board in 2017 and served as its Chair from 2019 to 2021. In 2022, she was appointed to the ALA National Board of Directors and currently chairs the Regional Relations Committee.
Her contributions have been honored with several prestigious awards, including the Nikki Steinman Lung Advocate Award, the Oklahoma TIC Award for mentoring emerging respiratory care practitioners, and the Emerging Entrepreneurs Award for developing an innovative online pulmonary rehabilitation program.
Wendy is a nationally active conference speaker and holds certification in Infection Prevention. She is a Registered Respiratory Care Practitioner, a Freedom from Smoking Facilitator, and served on the COVID-19 Advisory Committee from 2020 to 2022.
Beyond her clinical and operational work, Wendy is deeply engaged in public and environmental health advocacy. She serves on a local political action committee and actively supports campaigns that advance health equity and environmental wellness. Her vision, expertise, and unwavering dedication continue to elevate public health initiatives and improve lung health outcomes across the region and beyond.
