Maurer honored for leadership

Marsha Maurer, who began her careers as a staff nurse at Beth Israel Hospital and today serves as Interim Chief Operating Officer at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, has been recognized with the 11th annual Robert M. Melzer Leadership Award for "leading constructive, lasting and all-embracing change" at the medical center.

The award from the BIDMC Board of Directors was presented at the medical center's Annual Meeting.

"It's been said that we can never have enough role models like Marsha Maurer," said Board Chairman Stephen B. Kay in presenting the award created in 2002 to recognize Melzer's contributions as chair of BIDMC's board and interim CEO.

"Her calm and sensible leadership style has helped foster a culture of respect, fairness, and inclusion that we are known for at BIDMC. A true champion of the patient and their families, she has endeavored, all too successfully, to keep their needs at the center of everything we do."

Maurer, a native of Grosse Pointe, MI who currently lives in Milton, joined Beth Israel Hospital in the mid-1980s as a staff nurse, where she was known to be "courageous" and "deeply caring." After six years, she left to pursue advanced training and ultimately became the Senior Director for Acute Services at Cambridge Health Alliance in 1995.

She returned to BIDMC in 2001 as Director of Operations for the Medical/Surgical and Psychiatry Services. Moving through the roles of Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer, assuming the position of Interim Chief Operating officer in January.

"Marsha is loved and respected throughout the organization," said BIDMC President & CEO Kevin Tabb, MD. "She continues the long tradition of leading one of the strongest nursing organizations in the country, always an advocate not only for nursing, but for patients.

"When asked to step up to take on the role of interim COO, she did not hesitate and has plunged into the task. She has a quiet level-headedness about her ,which seems to always bring calm and reason to a situation. We can't thank her enough."

Earlier this year, Maurer was recognized with the 19th annual LGBT Achievement Award for her leadership in helping to create a special place for employees and patients alike to be truly seen, heard and understood.