Karen F. Clements, RN, FACHE, is vice president, Nursing and Patient Care Services, Northern Light Mercy Hospital, Portland, Maine.

She also serves on the Board of Governors of the of the American College of Healthcare Executives, an international professional society of more than 48,000 healthcare executives who lead hospitals, healthcare systems and other healthcare organizations. With comprehensive programs in credentialing, education, career counseling, publications and research, ACHE works toward its goal of being the preeminent professional society for leaders dedicated to advancing health.

Board certified in healthcare management as an ACHE Fellow, Ms. Clements served as the ACHE Regent for New Hampshire from 2018 to 2021, as the ACHE Interim Regent for New Hampshire from 2016 to 2018, and on several ACHE committees. She also serves as the immediate past president and education chair for the Northern New England Association of Healthcare Executives, an ACHE chapter.

Before assuming her current role in 2023, she was CNO, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center & Community Group Practices, Lebanon, N.H., from 2016 to 2022; associate CNO, Ambulatory, Primary Care, Emergency & Psychiatric Services, Care Management, System Staffing Office, Patient Placement, from 2015 to 2016; administrative director, Ambulatory & Physician Practice Nursing Service, in 2015; director, Emergency Department, Patient Placement Services, from 2014 to 2015; and program director, Patient Placement Services, from 2013 to 2014.

Prior to that, Ms. Clements was interim chief nursing executive, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health, Lebanon, N.H., from 2016 to 2017; and vice president, Nursing and Patient Care Services/CNO, Acadia Hospital, Bangor, Maine, from 2010 to 2013. Between 1991 and 2010, she worked at Eastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor, Maine, in several capacities: administrator, Patient Care Services (2005 to 2010); department head nurse/nurse manager of an ED; department head nurse/practice manager of an orthopedic clinic; and department head nurse, walk-in care hospital-based urgent care clinic (1999 to 2005); and charge nurse/clinical nurse, ED/Medical-Surgical, House Resource (1991 to 1999). Earlier, she served as a captain, active duty, with the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. from 1988 to 1991, and in reserve status from 1992 to 1999.

In addition to her service to ACHE, Ms. Clements serves as the immediate past president of the Lebanon-Riverside Rotary Club, as an executive leader in fundraising for United Way and on the board of Dick’s House, Lebanon, N.H. During her career, she has received various accolades including the ACHE Regent’s Award, ACHE Service Awards and recognition from the White House Medical Unit in 2008.

Ms. Clements earned a master’s degree in healthcare delivery science from Dartmouth College, Tuck School of Business, and The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice, Lebanon, N.H.; a master’s degree in business from Husson University, Bangor, Maine; and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Maine, Orono.