COLUMBUS, Miss. - Dr. Marcella McKay, chief operating officer for the Mississippi Hospital Association (MHA) and president and chief executive officer for the MHA Health, Research & Educational Foundation, will speak at the 129th Commencement Ceremonies for Mississippi University for Women on May 11.
McKay is herself an alumna of the university, with a bachelor's and master's degree from The W.
The university will hold two commencement ceremonies, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, in order to accommodate all of the graduates and their families.
Marcella L. McKay, PhD, RN
Marcella Long McKay serves in a dual role as chief operating officer for the Mississippi Hospital Association (MHA) and president and chief executive officer for the MHA Health, Research & Educational Foundation. Her areas of expertise include health policy, regulatory compliance, patient safety, quality of care and healthcare administration. Dr. McKay has more than 30 years of experience in health care in clinical, education and administrative positions and is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE). Dr. McKay previously served as executive director of the Mississippi Board of Nursing and served on the Board of Directors for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (1991). She currently serves on the National Advisory Committee for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded New Jersey Nursing Initiative and serves on numerous boards and committees for health care organizations and health-related education programs.
Dr. McKay spent four years on the campus of Mississippi University for Women receiving bachelor of science degrees in biology and nursing and a master of education in special education. She continued her education at the University of Mississippi Medical Center receiving a master of science in nursing and doctor of philosophy in clinical health science. Dr. McKay completed the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Executive Nurse Fellowship, a world-class leadership program to enhance the effectiveness of nurse leaders to impact the U.S. health system. Dr. McKay has received awards including executive leadership designation from the Executive Development Institute of the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service (1986); the Mississippi Nurses Association Board of Directors Award for Excellence (2002); recognition as one of the Mississippi Business Journal’s50 Leading Business Women (2004); and Mississippi Nurses Association 2009 Nurse of the Year in a Non-traditional Setting.
Dr. McKay is married to Bob McKay and has two sons, two daughters-in-law and two granddaughters. With joy, the McKays are expecting two more grandchildren between now and October.