Editor’s Note: McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care are profiling the McKnight’s 2024 Women of Distinction honorees daily from July 1 to Aug. 13. For additional McKnight’s Women of Distinction content, visit this page.

Karen Peck joined Brookdale Senior Living in 2011 as division director of clinical services after the organization merged with her former employer, Horizon Bay. Since then, she has left her mark on the company as a leader, a mentor and a colleague. 

As a registered nurse with more than three decades of experience in a variety of clinical and healthcare management settings, Peck is no stranger to the senior living field. She also has served in assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and geriatric care management capacities. 

Her current responsibilities include oversight of healthcare services and quality for 90 assisted living communities in nine states. She reviews clinical records for compliance and to assist with developing care plans to meet resident needs. And she also developed a nurse retention program that reduced turnover by 38% in one year. 

“When we think of a nurse leader, many qualities come to mind. The one that comes to the forefront of our minds when thinking of Karen is integrity,” her nominator said. “There have been many instances through the years where the easy decision wasn’t the right decision. Karen has always risen above the obstacles to do what was right. It makes decisionmaking not only easier but consistent.

More about Peck: 

  • Peck was the 2014 recipient of the Horace D’Angelo Jr. Memorial Award for advocacy from ALFA (Argentum) and the 2016 Rhode Island LongTerm Care Nurse of the Year Award. 
  • She was appointed by the Rhode Island governor to serve on the Department of Health’s Assisted Living Administrator’s Certification board in 2004, and she continues to serve today. 
  • She is a registered nurse with 35 years of experience. 

The McKnight’s Women of Distinction program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care. Healthcare Services Group was the Platinum sponsor of this year’s McKnight’s Women of Distinction Awards and Forum. PointClickCare was the Gold sponsor, and PharMerica was the Silver sponsor. Other sponsors included Curana Health, DirecTV for Business, Easyshifts, Hireology, Reliant Rehabilitation, ShiftKey and Sentrics.

Visit this web page to see lists of honorees from 2024 and previous years.