Beebe Healthcare Promotes Karen Pickard to Advance Medical and Health Education
Beebe Healthcare has promoted Karen Pickard, DNP, MSN, RN, CNE, NEA-BC, to Vice President, Nursing and Health Education, Academic Partnerships, and Clinical Advocacy.
In this expanded role, Pickard joins Beebe’s Executive Leadership Team and will help advance a more connected strategy for nursing and medical education, clinical professional development, academic partnerships, and workforce development.
“Education is essential to building the sustainable healthcare workforce our growing community needs,” said David A. Tam, MD, MBA, CPHE, FACHE, President & CEO, Beebe Healthcare. “As medical education expands across Delaware and Beebe continues to grow its nursing, residency, and clinical training programs, Karen’s experience, vision, and commitment will ensure education remains central to how Beebe plans for the future, expands access to care, and meets the evolving needs of Sussex County.”
A graduate of the Beebe School of Nursing, Pickard has dedicated 26 years to Beebe. She has led the Margaret H. Rollins School of Nursing since 2014 and has championed clinical education throughout Delaware for more than a decade.
Her preparation for this executive role also includes extensive academic credentials and leadership in nursing education at the state and national levels.
Pickard earned her bachelor’s degree from Gettysburg College, Master of Science in Nursing from Wesley College, post-master’s certificate in healthcare administration from the University of Delaware, and Doctor of Nursing Practice with a focus on executive leadership from American Sentinel University. She is a Certified Nurse Educator and an Advanced Nurse Executive.
For more than 12 years, Pickard has served as an accreditation site reviewer and team chair for the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, assessing nursing education programs and clinical partnerships across the country. She is a past president of the Delaware Organization for Nursing Leadership and continues to serve in leadership roles with the organization. She also serves on the Delaware Nurses Association Advocacy Board and the Delaware Advisory Council for Career and Technical Education.
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue serving Beebe and the community that has shaped my own career,” Pickard said. “Education creates opportunity. It strengthens the care we provide today while preparing the nurses, physicians, and healthcare professionals our community will depend on tomorrow. I look forward to bringing our education programs and academic partnerships into even closer alignment so that more people can learn, train, grow, and build meaningful careers here in Sussex County.”
Most recently, Pickard presented at the American Organization for Nursing Leadership’s 2025 Inspiring Leaders conference in Boston, highlighting her work and partnership with WVU Medicine to reimagine hospital-based nursing education as a way to improve access to the profession.
Beebe will begin its search for a new Director of the Margaret H. Rollins School of Nursing in the coming month. The school’s experienced leadership and education teams will continue advancing its work during the transition.