Swedish today announced that Dr. Kristen M. Swanson, dean of the College of Nursing at Seattle University and a Swedish Board of Trustees member since January 2015, is the new chair of the board. Dr. Swanson succeeds Dr. Michael J. Hart.
Swedish also named three new members to its board of trustees: Dr. Bobbie Berkowitz, a nursing and health systems expert; Monica Pool Knox, a seasoned executive in human resources and thought leader in talent management; and Dr. Jonathan R. Sugarman, a professor of family medicine and a specialist in improving population health and health care delivery.
“Our new trustees bring valuable expertise, skills and strategic vision to Swedish,” Dr. Hudson continued. “The depth and breadth of their experience will be instrumental in guiding our leadership team to pursue Swedish’s vision of providing patient-centered care and serving as the community’s health partner, all within a rapidly changing health care environment.”
Kristen M. Swanson, PhD, RN, FAAN, is dean and professor at the College of Nursing at Seattle University. Her research, ranging from phenomenological descriptions to randomized controlled trials, focuses on caring, responses to pregnancy loss, and interventions to promote healing after miscarriage. The Swanson Caring Theory has been used to guide practice, education and research in schools and health-care settings around the world. She was the first Virginia Mason Medical Center Distinguished Nurse Scholar and the first University of Washington Medical Center professor in nursing leadership. She consults internationally on strategies to create and sustain a culture of safety, caring and leadership. Former administrative positions in academic nursing include dean of nursing at UNC Chapel Hill and chair of the family and child nursing department at the University of Washington School of Nursing.
Bobbie Berkowitz, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, is a nationally recognized health care leader with several decades of experience in improving public health nursing practice. Berkowitz is dean emerita and professor of nursing and health policy and management at Columbia University School of Nursing. She is also professor emerita at the University of Washington School of Nursing, where she served on the faculty for 14 years. A member of the National Academy of Medicine and former president of the American Academy of Nursing, Berkowitz served as senior vice president at Columbia University Irving Medical Center until 2018.
Monica Pool Knox, MBA, is one of the country’s leading voices in innovative talent management practices, including initiatives aimed at unlocking talent capability and incorporating the use of artificial intelligence and other modern technology. Knox is currently head of global talent optimization at Microsoft, where she leads the company’s efforts to transform its global workforce culture. Prior to joining Microsoft, Knox held senior HR roles at Twitter, CBS Interactive, Sony Electronics, the Walt Disney Company, PepsiCo and Verizon.
Jonathan R. Sugarman, MD, MPH, is a national leader on improving population health and health care delivery and accelerating health care transformation. He is currently CEO of Global to Local, a Seattle-based nonprofit dedicated to applying successful global health strategies to improving health in underserved communities in the U.S. He is also a clinical professor in the department of family medicine at the University of Washington. Previously, Dr. Sugarman served as president and CEO of Seattle-based Qualis Health, a nonprofit dedicated to improving population health, particularly among vulnerable populations. He is former president of the American Health Quality Association and former president of the Washington Academy of Family Physicians.
“We extend our sincere appreciation to these generous civic leaders for their dedicated service on the Swedish Board of Trustees," added Dr. Hudson.**Editor’s note: Please click here for full bios for all of the Swedish Board of Trustees.
