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Patricia O'Connor, Ph.D., Vice President, Program
Pat O’Connor’s extensive experience in health care, academia, and nonprofit organizations has earned her the respect and appreciation of the community and her peers. In her role as Vice President of Programs for The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati and InterAct for Change, Pat oversees $12 million in annual grantmaking and program activities. In addition, she is a director of the Health Policy Institute of Ohio and Cornerstone Corporation for Shared Equity.
As a grantmaker, Pat began an association with the Greater Cincinnati Foundation in 1997. Through them, she assisted the ChoiceCare Foundation to systematize its grantmaking programs. When that foundation converted in late 1997, Pat lead the strategic planning process that created the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati, its grantmaking style, four focus areas, community involvement processes and emphasis on outcomes.
As a direct result of Pat’s efforts at Duke University as the Executive Director of Nursing Services, the hospital’s nursing program dramatically improved. She reduced staff turnover form over 28% to 11%. She instituted several new programs, including a part-time LPN-to-RN program for long-term employees, an Outpatient Recovery and Observation Unit, and other clinical programs. Notably, she instituted a staffing program that saved $6 million annually in contract staffing costs, and a Nursing Research Center that quadrupled its outside funding in ten months.
For 12 years, Pat worked at University of Cincinnati Hospital, serving many of those years as an Associate Administrator for Nursing. She implemented efficiency and quality improvement initiatives and new clinical programs, reducing staff turnover from 30% to 14%. She lead the organizational planning that created the University Health Plan. While University Hospital was merging with Holmes Hospital, Pat assumed the position of interim administrator at Holmes. Pat also developed the business plan for the creation of a hospital in Greece for American International Medical Resources, and served as President of Phoenix International Life Sciences, US, a clinical research organization.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Pat is actively involved with the community. She participates in organizations that are renowned for their just causes and positive results. Pat has volunteered for Amnesty International for 17 years, sending letters on behalf of prisoners of conscience and those unjustly imprisoned around the world. She has shown distinguished leadership skills in planning the Health Policy Institute of Ohio, as its first President (2003-4) and as a board member (since 2003), and as a board member of Cornerstone Corporation for Shared Equity (since 2001).
Pat has taught nursing administration at the University of Cincinnati, Duke University, and Wright State University, as well as business administration at the University of Cincinnati.
Pat holds a Master of Science in Nursing and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Cincinnati and a Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University.
As an experienced philanthropist, teacher, and hospital director, Pat has the skills, experience, and enthusiasm to fulfill the mission of InterAct for Change.
Dr. O’Connor can be reached at:
Rookwood Tower
3805 Edwards Road, Suite 500
Cincinnati, OH 45209-1948
Phone: 513-458-6620
Fax: 513-458-6610
Email: oconnorp@healthfoundation.org