Heather Keirnan, RN, NE-BC

Heather Keirnan, RN, NE-BC, is vice president of operations at Northwestern Medicine. Ms. Keirnan’s responsibilities include the day-to-day operational and strategic oversight of more than 20 Northwestern Medicine-affiliated immediate care centers in four regions across northern Illinois. Her nursing background in emergency medicine spans 20 years and allowed her to hone her expertise in patient access and hospital throughput. As a devoted patient advocate, Ms. Kiernan focuses on innovative team leadership to ensure that patients receive the care they require, quickly and efficiently. She also currently represents hospitals on the State of Illinois Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Services Implementation Task Force working to define optimal practice recommendations in the treatment of patients seeking care after sexual assault.

Ms. Keirnan received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Loyola University and her master’s degree in nursing with an emphasis on leadership and finance from Benedictine University. She is an ANCC-board certified nurse executive who has affiliated with Northwestern Medicine for 25 years, serving in various positions from staff nurse to roles in leadership within women’s health and emergency medicine.