Kari Wilson Earns Doctorate of Nursing Practice

SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) is proud to announce that within one year of welcoming Kari Wilson to Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital as chief nursing officer (CNO), she earned a doctorate of nursing practice (DNP).

Wilson began the doctorate program approximately three years ago while working as a CNO in the Midwest and received her DNP from the University of Missouri’s Sinclair School of Nursing.

Wilson’s DNP has a leadership emphasis; she explains that in the middle of the country, it is quickly becoming the standard for CNO’s to have this level of education. She says, “I had two masters degrees already and the doctorate was a natural extension. I have a curious mind and found each of my degrees has provided practical knowledge.” Wilson adds, “I’m fortunate to have such a supportive family, and even after moving to Southeast Alaska, it never even crossed my mind not to finish. I guess I can thank my parents for drilling into me as a kid that you finish what you start.”

Wilson is passionate about rural health, which she attributes to growing up on a remote Missouri farm. She came to SEARHC in June 2018 with fourteen years of CNO/Chief Operating Officer experience from an SSM Health hospital and clinic network in a rural Missouri hospital. During her time at SSM Health, Wilson also helped lead that hospital through their acquisition-transition period.

According to SEARHC Vice President and Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital Administrator Chris Wolf, “SEARHC is not only thrilled for Kari’s achievements with such notable educational and career success, but we’re also thrilled and fortunate that she is here to share her experience and expertise with us.”