CHESTNUT HILL – The Connell School of Nursing biannual guest lecture series, the Pinnacle Lecture Series, has received a generous donation from MedStar Health in honor of respected alumna Maureen P. McCausland, DNSc, RN, FAAN at her transition from the organization. Dr. McCausland was the founding system Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at MedStar Health, and this gift recognizes her impact on the organization, its culture, and its mission of serving patients, providers, and the communities in which they live.
Maureen McCausland, B.S. ’72, M.S. ’77
“I can think of no better way to honor Dr. McCausland,” said Kenneth A. Samet, FACHE, President and CEO of MedStar Health. “Maureen has always represented the ideals of the nursing profession in the most sincere and committed way, and MedStar Health is a better caregiving organization because of her time with us.”
The gift will further advance the school’s goal of educating the next generation of nurse leaders for years to come. And in recognition of this donation, CSON will name the keynote speaker of the Pinnacle Lecture Series, the “Dr. Maureen P. McCausland Pinnacle Keynote Speaker,” starting in the fall of 2019 and continuing through spring of 2024. McCausland, B.S. ’72, M.S. ’77 is a Senior Advisor at McChrystal Group in Alexandria, VA. McChrystal Group is an advisory services and leadership development firm.
“Maureen has always represented the ideals of the nursing profession in the most sincere and committed way, and MedStar Health is a better caregiving organization because of her time with us.”
Approaching its 10th anniversary, the Pinnacle Lecture Series brings widely recognized nurse leaders to Boston College to speak on issues at the forefront of healthcare. Past speakers have included Shelia Davis, DNP, ANP-BC, FAAN, Chief of Clinical Operations and Chief Nursing Officer, Partners in Health, who spoke about her journey to becoming a global nurse; and Susan Orsega, MSN, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, Chief Nurse Officer, United States Public Health Service, who spoke about disaster preparedness and the role nurses play in better serving marginalized populations during public health crises. Dr. McCausland was one of the early speakers in the history of the lecture series, and her insights and presentation helped characterize the series as one of CSON’s signature events. Because of Dr. McCausland’s thoughtful selection of CSON as the recipient of this gift, CSON will continue to be able to offer the Pinnacle Lecture Series to students, alumni, and the greater nursing community.
Dr. McCausland is a distinguished nurse leader with more than 30 years of experience as a nurse executive. She began her career with the Boston Department of Health and Hospitals, where she held several nurse director positions. She has held numerous leadership positions, including Vice President for Nursing for Hanna Pavilion at the University Hospitals of Cleveland, and Associate Vice President for Nursing at The Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. McCausland joined MedStar in 2010 from the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, where she served as Senior Vice President, Patient Care Services, and Chief Nursing Officer. Prior to this, Dr. McCausland served as Chief Nursing Executive at the University of Pennsylvania Health System, Senior Fellow at the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, and Associate Dean for Nursing Practice at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.
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About MedStar Health
MedStar Health, a not-for-profit healthcare organization that serves the Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area.
About the Connell School of Nursing
The Boston College William F. Connell School of Nursing opened in 1947, making it the first Catholic higher education institution in the Boston area to offer a baccalaureate nursing program. Today, the Connell School offers baccalaureate, RN/MS, MS/MBA, MS/MA, DNP, Ph.D., and continuing education programs. In the Jesuit tradition, the Connell School of Nursing seeks to educate students to think critically and to incorporate values in service to others. The school’s renowned faculty is widely published and includes nurse scholars and researchers who are recognized as national experts and leaders in their fields.