Kathleen McGrow, DNP, MS, RN, PMP, Chief Nursing Information Officer and Director of Industry Solutions for the Microsoft U.S. Health & Life Science Industry Team

Get to know Kathleen McGrow, who works in Baltimore, Maryland.

Kathleen is a registered nurse and project management professional who serves as Chief Nursing Information Officer and Director of Industry Solutions for the Microsoft U.S. Health & Life Science Industry Team. In this role, she advises organizations on how the innovative use of technology can support their digital transformation imperatives of consumer engagement, provider enablement, analytics for population health, and cognitive computing to support a learning health system.

Her expertise in data, analytics, and artificial intelligence is used to educate and inform organizations on how to enhance clinical, operational, and financial performance, maximize capacity and patient experience, as well as transform to new care models and paradigms. Kathleen has led, planned, and directed programs and strategic initiatives for organizations, including implementation of an evidence framework for best practices. This framework was used to identify customer pain points and targeted outcomes and used during engagements to assist the customer in developing success plans including quantifiable targeted outcomes such as return on investment and cost aversion. The framework was leveraged in both population health (care management) and quality improvement initiatives. Her experience includes engaging with a variety of C-Suite executives, providers (clinicians), and care managers, as well as a geographically dispersed team of clinical and technical experts.

“Early in my career, I was highly motivated to be in a learning environment with like-minded professionals. While I still enjoy being challenged and learning something every day, I now greatly enjoy working with an eclectic and diverse group of colleagues.” as stated by Kathleen.

With over three decades of experience in her field, she earned her nursing degree from Marymount University in 1985. She then attended the University of Maryland, where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 1986, her Master’s of Science, in 2002 and her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree focused on Executive Leadership and Evidence-Based Practice in 2015. 

Prior to working at Microsoft, she held positions at GE Healthcare, Caradigm (a Microsoft & GE Company), and Philips. Her early career consisted of working a variety of clinical positions from med-surg oncology to surgical and trauma critical care. It was while working as a registered nurse in the Trauma Resuscitation Unit (TRU) at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland that she saw the potential of information technology’s impact on patient care. For this reason, she decided to attend the University of Maryland Nursing Informatics Program for her Master of Science degree.

Her clinical background spans many years, with the majority of that time spent in trauma and critical care settings. She has worked at some of the premier medical centers in the United States, including Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center. 

“My journey has been rather convoluted, and everyone has their own path; when you get tripped up, get back up again. Education can be an advantage. Always surround yourself with supportive family and friends.” as noted by Kathleen. To stay up to date in her field, she remains a professional member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, HIMSS, the American Nursing Informatics Association, and the International Nurses Association.

A registered nurse (RN) is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program and met the requirements outlined by a country, state, province or similar licensing body to obtain a nursing license. RNs fulfill a variety of job duties. In addition to their primary role in treating and caring for patients, their responsibilities also include educating patients and the public about a variety of medical conditions, as well as providing emotional support and advice to the families of their patients. Other RN job functions include leadership, research, performing diagnostic tests and analyzing results, operating medical equipment, administering medications, recording patients’ symptoms and medical histories, and assisting with patient rehabilitation and follow-up.

Project Management Professional (PMP) is an internationally recognized professional designation offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). In an increasingly projectized world, PMI professional certification ensures that an individual is ready to meet the demands of projects and employers across the globe.

With a proven track record as a successful executive leader, Kathleen stays motivated by being observant, self-aware, and adaptable. She hopes to motivate others through example and positive feedback.

Learn More About Kathleen McGrow:

Through her online profile, https://todaysnurse.org/network/index.php?do=/4145471/info/ or through HIMSS, https://www.himss.org/resources/kathleen-mcgrow-member-profile