Karen Nelson, R.N.

MPA/Health

Though she enjoyed her career in clinical nursing, Karen decided to apply her knowledge and skills in a different manner. She explored various graduate degree programs until she discovered the MPA/Health at the Sawyer Business School. “I knew my skills could be put to good use in ways other than a one-to-one patient care role, and I wanted to pursue healthcare on a larger scale. The master’s degree in public administration was appealing, and the focus on healthcare allowed me to make the most of the skills I already possessed.”

Now the Senior Vice President of Clinical Affairs for the Massachusetts Hospital Association, Karen provides strategic direction, leadership and project management for all activities related to clinical issues, healthcare quality, patient safety, public health, professional practice, the healthcare workforce and health information technology. She is also the point person for the association’s innovative Patients First program, a sweeping, statewide quality-and-safety imitative aimed at strengthening the healthcare industry’s commitment to high-quality care. “Suffolk helped me develop the consensus-building skills that are so important in my work. Group projects prepare you for dealing with real world situations, and the curriculum is carefully constructed to help students succeed in public service.”

Karen is quick to recommend the Sawyer Business School’s healthcare graduate degree programs. “Education should expand your horizons, not narrow them. Explore what the Sawyer Business School offers, and decide which program fits your goals. You’ll get a big-picture education that still allows you to focus on a particular area of interest in the world of healthcare.”