Debbie Burke, RN, DNP, MBA, NEA-BC, is Senior Vice President for Patient Care and Chief Nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital and Professor of Nursing and Associate Dean, Clinical Affairs at the MGH Institute of Health Professions, School of Nursing. She has responsibility for advancing clinical practice, research, education, and community service through oversight of over 7000 nurses, health professionals and support personnel.

Dr. Burke leads a five-time Magnet designated hospital and NurseJournal has identified MGH as one of the top 15 hospitals to work as a nurse. 

Through her strategic leadership and extensive philanthropic efforts, she has secured funding for staff education, professional development, wellbeing, research/scholarship initiatives and innovation.  She has also secured funding for five endowed, named positions in nursing and other health professions. 

At the MassGeneral Brigham system level, Dr. Burke chairs the Chief Nurse Council comprised of 14 CNOs with a keen focus on advancing nursing practice and quality outcomes, expanding nursing education, expanding diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging, leveraging technology, and promoting efficiency and effectiveness of initiatives and programs.   She is currently the Primary Investigator for a joint relationship with the University Hospital Leuven in Belgium through the Magnet4Europe initiative to provide guidance toward achieving Magnet Recognition.

Dr. Burke is vice chair of the Board of Trustees of Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Mass General Cancer Center honored her with their “One Hundred” award in recognition of her personal efforts to raise funds for breast cancer research.

Dr. Burke graduated from Malden Hospital School of Nursing, earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Doctorate of Nursing Practice degrees from Northeastern University and her Master of Business Administration from Salem State University.