MEDITECH President and CEO Michelle O’Connor, COO and EVP Helen Waters, and Chief Marketing and Nursing Executive Cathy Turner were recently recognized in Becker’s Hospital Review’s 2025 100 Women in Health IT to Know.
The annual list, which this year also included many MEDITECH customers, aims to recognize the influential women who are making a significant impact on the healthcare industry through their leadership and innovation in health information technology.
With a keen focus on developing adaptable, intelligent EHR platforms, O’Connor, Waters, and Turner are driving the implementation of technology that evolves seamlessly with the ever-changing needs of healthcare.
Becker’s recognized O’Connor for her extensive role shaping MEDITECH’s overarching strategy, operations, and product innovation. As a long-time veteran of the company, O'Connor is also a passionate champion for diversity, workforce development, and advancing women in healthcare technology leadership.
Waters was recognized for her dedication to the company's strategic direction, operations, product development, business partnerships, and customer experience. She spearheaded the 2024 U.S. launch of Traverse Exchange, a significant initiative that expanded data exchange capabilities and advanced interoperability nationwide.
"It's a true testament to MEDITECH's collective dedication and innovative spirit to be recognized on this list alongside my two colleagues," said Waters. "Our commitment extends to ensuring we can deliver advanced technologies and modern capabilities by staying laser-focused and relevant for today’s market and customers. The fiscal sustainability of our healthcare system remains a top priority for our company. We are in this industry, passionately committed to solving its challenges, not adding to them.
Becker's commended Turner for her multifaceted leadership at MEDITECH, where she oversees marketing operations, product management, and crucial nursing informatics initiatives. As a pioneer of MEDITECH's nurse informatics program, Turner plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the perspectives of nurses directly shape product design, ultimately leading to improved clinical workflows.
"It's truly an honor to be recognized among so many inspiring women in healthcare IT,” said Turner. “I'm so grateful to be listed alongside many of the incredible leaders from our MEDITECH customer organizations, who are at the forefront of transforming patient care every day."
Among the many esteemed MEDITECH customers included on the list was Dr. Kelsey Reed, recently appointed Vice President and CNO at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center. Healthcare IT Today featured Reed on a podcast where she discussed how Phoebe Putney Health System is tackling the nursing shortage and improving patient care. She was recognized for championing nursing informatics, EHR optimization, and clinical workflow redesign through direct collaboration with frontline nurses on the state and national levels.
Other MEDITECH customer executives honored by Becker’s include:
- Lisa Avellino, CIO, Gaylord Hospital (Wallingford, Conn.)
- Dr. Priscilla A. Frase, CMIO and Interim Director of IT, Ozarks Healthcare
- Jackie Rice, Vice President and CIO, Frederick (Md.) Health
- Leigh Williams, Vice President and CIO, Augusta Health
Our executives, along with several innovative customers, will be sharing their strategies at MEDITECH LIVE, our executive leadership event scheduled for September 17-19.
