Dr. O’Rourke is CNO and vice president of patient care services at UMass Memorial Medical Center, responsible for systemwide nursing practice and patient care delivery across multiple campuses and specialties. A 30-plus year leader who began her career at the organization as a student patient care assistant, she now leads a workforce of more than 3,700 nursing employees and oversees an operating budget exceeding $650 million. She has advanced shared governance and the organization’s “Pathways to Excellence” journey, strengthening caregiver wellness, professional growth and engagement. Dr. O’Rourke also championed foundational training for frontline nurse managers through a standardized program in human resources, finance, safety and leadership, building stronger unit-level support for staff. Between 2022 and 2025, the organization achieved major improvements in engagement, patient experience and quality performance, reflecting sustained operational and clinical gains. She is a visible advocate for caregiver safety, co-leading executive efforts that include peer support, workplace violence prevention and safe patient handling. She also mentors emerging leaders through DNP student precepting.
