Nairobi. 20th August, 2020…A renewed vision for The Karen Hospital it is as Mrs. Juliet. W. Gikonyo-Nyaga MPH, BSc is installed into the office as The 2nd Chief Executive Officer of The Karen Hospital.
Prior to this appointment, Juliet was for last one year the Chief Executive Officer-Designate. Juliet will replace Dr. Betty M. Gikonyo who will be moving on to take up the role of Chairman of The Karen Hospital Board.
Juliet holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health – Epidemiology (MPH) from Tulane University, School of Public Health &Tropical Medicine, (New Orleans, LA, USA); A Bachelor of Science Degree (BSc) Biology and a Bachelor of Science (BSc) Degree in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Massachusetts, USA.
The colourful installation ceremony took place at the Hospital’s Helipad and was by graced by Hon. Raphael Tuju, EGH who gave the key note address.
The official installation involved a hand over of the Hospital’s instruments of authority which included the Relevant Laws that Authorized Hospital Operations.
The inauguration ceremony was presided over by The Karen Hospital Founders: Dr. Dan Gikonyo, Chief Cardiologist and Dr. Betty Gikonyo, Board Chair, Board Directors,
Delegates, The Karen Hospital Executive Committee members and staff. Hon. Raphael Tuju congratulated the incoming CEO Mrs. Juliet Gikonyo Nyaga and stated that best days are not from the past but the present. “We have confidence in you.
You are well educated and mentored and hence no reason to fail,” he said. I am glad to be associated with The Karen Hospital Healthcare System from inception. The journey has been long but with great pleasure we note that The Cardiac Program the flagship of the hospital has grown to have a full-time hospital based Cardiac Team, The hospital branch network that takes quality and affordable healthcare services to the counties, The Training College awarding Diplomas in Registered Nursing having produced the best nursing student nationally in 2019 Nursing Council of Kenya annual exams and lastly The Heart to Heart Foundation the charity arm of the hospital that has supported over 500 children from disadvantaged backgrounds with heart diseases. It offers a new lease of life through life saving heart surgeries.
He further offered tribute to Drs. Dan and Betty Gikonyo for not only establishing the hospital but the better picture of managing succession plans and handing over to the next generation.
Dr. Betty Gikonyo the outgoing CEO and incoming Chairman of the Board on her part confirmed that Mrs. Juliet Gikonyo Nyaga has grown under her mentorship since the inception of The Karen Hospital in 2006. Her professional qualification and work experience speak for itself. She has shown interest to learn, the willingness to be corrected and nurtured.
“Today, I am handing over the reins of executive leadership of The Karen Hospital to a new CEO, after 15 years at the helm. It has been a period of profound growth, and the hospital is no doubt embarked upon the beginning of yet another journey of growth,” She said.
She further advised the new CEO, Mrs. Juliet Gikonyo Nyaga to:-
Making reference to Book of Numbers 6:24-26; Dr. Betty Muthoni Gikonyo offered blessings to the CEO “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you; and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace”
“True success is not when you make it, it is when you build something, lead it to the hearts of those you are mentoring;” said Dr. Dan Gikonyo, Co-Founder and The Chief Cardiologist of The Karen Hospital.
He further added that The Karen Hospital has risen to be a fully-fledged hospital with great minds and professionalism not only in the medical field but all the staff in our main hospital as well our branches.
To Juliet Gikonyo Nyaga, “You have among all the items inherited a powerful Executive Management Team that is well structured to support the delivery of our promise to clients of quality, affordable and accessible healthcare services with exceptional clinical outcomes in East and Central Africa and hence as the new CEO you are in good, he said.
The Karen Hospital Medical Training College is in the process of training Intensive care nurses, Surgeons and the Government should consider giving The Karen Hospital tax incentives in consideration of training surgeons.
In her inaugural speech soon after her installation, Mrs. Juliet. W. Gikonyo-Nyaga MPH, BSc promised to work toward rejuvenating the energy in her team and stakeholders working together the Renewed the Vision of the Hospital.
The Renewed vision extends to the Kenyan Medical and Health care Fraternity. I strongly believe that our plans in this area shall have a great impact not only for the Karen Hospital, but also for our Kenyan health industry as a whole “To the shoes that are to be filled – Dr. Betty Gikonyo, Mom, I believe you are an icon for women professionals. Your shoes are therefore iconic! They are there to inspire other women and not to be worn by anyone,” she concluded
