Karen Murphy, RN, Ph.D.
Published: March 11, 2010
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Challenges help you to evolve
As the president and chief executive officer of Moses Taylor Health Care System (MTHCS), Karen Murphy, RN, Ph.D., never accepts “no” for an answer.
As president and CEO of the health system, which is composed of two hospitals, Moses Taylor Hospital in Scranton and the Mid-Valley Hospital in Peckville, as well as a regional physicians’ group, Physicians Health Alliance Inc., Murphy works with the governing board, physicians, management and staff to create a strategic vision for the health-care system and the overall health of the community.
Beginning in 1977 as a registered nurse, Murphy has held multiple positions in both the clinical and administrative fields. Having begun and spent a majority of her career at Moses Taylor Hospital, she is the founder and CEO of Physicians Health Alliance and also vice president of planning and managed care. She has served as a consultant for local and national health-care organizations and, in October of 2009, she was named president and CEO of Moses Taylor Health Care System.
“The greatest lessons that I have learned resulted from the challenges I have faced. I truly believe that life’s challenges present us with immense opportunities to learn. Subsequently, you evolve as a professional and an individual,” she said.
She urges businesswomen to remain positive, even in difficult times. It’s always easier to focus on the negative, so staying positive can be hard work.
As a firm believer in the concept of life-long learning, she points out that continuing education comes in many forms, whether it is a seminar available through work or pursuing an additional or advanced degree.
“Networking and community involvement, both related and unrelated to your field, will also always be important components to a successful career. Stepping outside of your day-to-day activities to meet new people or join a new cause will prove to be fruitful for your professional portfolio and your personal happiness,” she said.
With her family and friends as her greatest support, she and her husband, Martin, are the proud parents of two children, Tara, New York City, and Timothy, Bethlehem.
