Christine E. Klucznik, MS ’96; RN, BSN 

“This is where I grew up,” said Christine Klucznik of UMass Medical School's clinical partner, UMass Memorial Medical Center, where she was employed for 23 years before entering the Graduate School of Nursing. “I started out as a staff nurse and had many opportunities to develop professionally.”

In fact, by the time she started her master’s program focusing on nursing management, she had already been a nurse manager for oncology and the director of cancer services, handling daily operations and fiscal management for a variety of units and focusing on patient care redesign, service delivery, quality improvement and policy development. “During my tenure as director of cancer services, senior nursing leadership was informed of a new requirement to obtain a master’s degree within five years,” recalled Klucznik, who had already been considering continuing her education. “I saw it as a commitment to my future.”

While a GSN student, Klucznik’s role as the director of cancer services enabled her to be involved with the design, development and implementation of a bone marrow transplant program at UMass Memorial. “That project got me involved in leadership development as well, which was also a focus of my curriculum.”

Klucznik has served as vice president of clinical services and chief nursing officer for Hebrew Rehabilitation Center since 2004. Responsible for daily operations and administration, she has worked with several teams to open a medical acute care unit, coordinate the roll out of provider order entry and the electronic medical record, and develop programs in a new facility in Dedham. She is particularly proud of the career development program for Hebrew Center staff interested in getting an LPN. “It provides an opportunity for a better life,” said Klucznik. The program’s first class graduated in September 2008.

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