Mary Lou Kelleher, Vice President of Nursing
Clinical Staff» Mary Lou Kelleher
Mary Lou Kelleher brings more than 35 years of nursing experience to her role as Vice President of Nursing at Franciscan Hospital for Children.
She began her nursing career at Kennedy Memorial Hospital, before it was renamed Franciscan Hospital for Children.
She received her Diploma in Nursing from Lawrence Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Medford.
Later, she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing Administration from Regis College. Mary Lou is currently a member of the Regis Nursing Department Faculty.
She has served in various nursing roles at Tuft’s New England Medical Center, Franciscan Children’s Hospital, Olsten Kimberley Quality Care and most recently at MassGeneral Hospital for Children. Returning to Franciscan, where she started her nursing career, was an obvious choice for Mary Lou. “It is an opportunity to advance the wonderful nursing practice that is already present here. I was taught how to be a good nurse at Franciscan and I want to mentor other nurses to share my passion for nursing. The care of medically challenged children and their families has always been extremely important to me.”
Over her career, she has accumulated awards for Excellence in Nursing, Pediatrics, Research and Leadership. Mary Lou is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society, Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, the Massachusetts Organization of Nurse Leaders, the Society of Pediatric Nurses and the Society for the Arts in Health Care.
Her clinical interests include the advancement of a Family Centered Model of Practice, Care of the Chronically Challenged Child and their family, Process Improvement, Team Building and Quality and Safety.
Throughout her professional practice, she has developed not only the practical nursing skills needed to provide the best of care, but also her ability to build rapport and trust with children and their families. She believes that communication and respect result in the best possible care, nursing department and healthcare system.
In her own time, she volunteers for other charities in Boston including Project Bread and Rosie’s Place. Born and raised in Medford, Massachusetts, Mary Lou is a local girl with local ties to the community. She is married to Kevin Kelleher for over thirty years; they have four children and now two beautiful grandsons. She enjoys escaping to Newfound Lake in NH to balance her life and spirit. Mary Lou sees nursing as more than a job, rather a privilege to meet, serve and administer to the children, families and staff.