Karen McCall, chief marketing officer of Chapel Hill, N.C.-based UNC Health Care, retired Dec. 1.
Here are five takeaways:
1. Ms. McCall spent 29 years working at UNC Health Care.
2. She initially served as a budget officer for UNC Hospitals and was promoted through the years to eventually serve as chief marketing officer.
3. Over the course of career at UNC, she led communications efforts for numerous growth initiatives, including the formation of the UNC Health Care System in 1998 and opening of the N.C. Cancer Hospital in Chapel Hill in 2009.
4. She has chaired the Stroke Advisory Committee, a part of the Justus-Warren Task Force created by the NC General Assembly.
5. She holds an MBA from Samford University in Homewood, Ala.
"She has a tremendous heart for people," said William Roper, MD, dean of the UNC School of Medicine and CEO of UNC Health Care. "One of the things that she has done superbly well over the years is see things we do from the patient's perspective and help us to serve the people we serve with care and dedication. She's handled the most difficult cases, the most problematic complainers, and she's done it with grace and expertise. We're a much better place, able to serve people much better because of the work of Karen McCall and I'm going to miss her terribly."