Debbie Burke, RN, DNP, MBA, NEA-BC, is senior vice president for Patient Care and chief nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. She has responsibility for advancing clinical practice, research, education and community service, and oversight for a staff of over 7000 nurses, health professionals and support personnel.

Since joining the staff at Mass General, Dr. Burke has assumed clinical, teaching and administrative roles within a variety of clinical services. Her impact has been broad in ensuring excellence in patient- and family-centered care and professional nursing practice. She has provided leadership within several key initiatives, including the Autism Care Collaborative, a hospital-wide plan to ensure excellence in the care of adults with autism; and the creation of a Mass General Brigham Nursing Agency, designed to improve patient care and reduce costs. She is currently the Primary Investigator for Mass General’s twinning relationship with the University Hospitals Leuven in Belgium through the Magnet4Europe initiative focused on guiding their journey towards Magnet Recognition.

Her leadership focus has been on the importance of the professional practice environment and staff satisfaction. 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.