Recently retired after 45 years at University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (formerly The Memorial Hospital at Easton, Maryland). During the 45 years held various leadership and management positions. At the time of retirement, held the position of Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer, overseeing Nursing, Rehab Services, Pharmacy, Emergency Services, Home Care, and Professional Practice.
Guided the organization through a successful transfer of electronic medical records from Meditech to EPIC, the preferred electronic health record system used in more than 250 health care organizations worldwide. Was instrumental in facilitating two successful Magnet® accreditation processes through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the most prestigious distinction a health care organization can achieve for nursing excellence and quality patient care.
Graduated in 1974 from the MacQueen Gibbs Willis School of Nursing with a diploma in nursing, 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Wesley College in Dover, Delaware, 1990 Masters of Science in Nursing at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. with a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Women’s and Children’s Health, and in 2007, became the first nurse at UM SRH to obtain a doctorate degree, receiving a Doctorate in Education (Ed.D) in Leadership and Innovation from Wilmington University. Holds Nurse Executive, Advanced certification (NEA-BC) from ANCC.
Has a deep desire to mentor and coach the next generation of nurses at UM SRH. Has served as mentor and reader for numerous nurses in their Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral programs.
Conducted nursing research, published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals and has written and obtained several grants for the healthcare system. In 2017, named the Pride of the Peake honoree by Chesapeake College, which also established an endowed scholarship in her name.
Married to Gary Jones for 45 years, recently widowed. Gary served as the Director of the Heart and Vascular Center at UM Shore Regional Health where he worked for 50 years. He was one of the original 5 paramedics to start the service in Talbot County and was a Board member of the Talbot Paramedic Foundation. He was dedicated to assuring quality prehospital care and hospital care to cardiac patients.
Goal now is to serve as a Board member in honor of Gary Jones and to continue with the work of the Foundation he so strongly believed in and was so proud of.