As a 20 plus year Associate, Karen MacGillivray has shown an incredible dedication and commitment to CHOC's mission, values and its patients. Karen exemplifies what a caring and compassionate R.N. should be. Her loyality to her patients and their families help achieve ultimate care. The NICU patients are very diverse, with many facing multi-system care issues. Karen is an advocate for these high accuity infants. She consistently takes the time to not only ensure optimal patient care, but parents educational, social and emotional needs are identified and met.

Karen not only serves CHOC as a bedside Associate, she assumes a variety of roles to improve quality in her unit. Karen acts as a relief charge nurse; in this role she cheerfully shares with her coworkers her wealth of knowledge gained from personal experiences. Karen has precepted many of CHOC's NICU R.N.s. Karen has also taken a lead role in the NICU Quality improvement program. She is the sole R.N. who has participated since its inception. This council has been the driving force for many best practice improvements in the NICU and the council has received national recognition for their innovations.