Carney Hospital has a new leader. Karen Ahearn, RN, has assumed the duties of interim president of the 159-bed Dorchester hospital. She takes over for now from Tom Sands, Carney’s president since 2018. Sands has taken a new position as president of Beverly Hospital.

Ahearn previously served as the chief administrative officer and chief nursing officer at the hospital, which is part of the Steward Health Care Network.
“In my five years at Carney, I have come to know and love Carney and the community it serves,” said Ahearn. “Along with the leadership team, I look forward to continuing to provide excellent, quality care to our patients and their families, as well as continuing to improve the patient and employee experience.”

Ahearn brings a depth of expertise as a nursing leader and hospital executive. Prior to joining Carney, she served as the chief nursing officer at Community Medical Center, Barnabas Health System, a 600-bed facility in Toms River, NJ.

Her experience also includes having served as the director of Women and Children’s Services with Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey, as well as the director of nursing with Saint Michael’s Medical Center in Newark, NJ, among other leadership posts.

She holds an MPA in Healthcare Management from Kean University in Union, NJ and she earned her BSN with honors from St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, NJ.