Geisinger Health System named Karen Murphy executive vice president, chief innovation officer and founding director of its Steele Institute for Healthcare Innovation.
In the new role, Murphy, a registered nurse, will lead the institute’s team, working to transform healthcare delivery by improving patient experience, quality, efficiency and outcomes.
“I’m looking forward to joining the organization,” Murphy said. “Throughout my entire career, I have always focused on transforming healthcare delivery and innovation, and I believe this is a continuation of that work.”
Murphy is currently secretary of health in Pennsylvania. To battle the opioid epidemic, she launched the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program and put in place the state’s medical marijuana program. “I’m very appreciative of my time here at the state, and I’m looking forward to the next chapter,” she said.
She will step down as secretary on June 30 and start her new role at Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger in September.
Before serving as Pennsylvania’s health secretary, Murphy was director of the CMS’ $900 million State Innovation Models Initiative. Earlier, she was CEO of the Moses Taylor Health Care System based in Scranton, Pa.
Murphy holds a doctor of philosophy degree in business administration from Temple University’s Fox School of Business and an MBA from Marywood University.