Healthcare Advocate Carol Keehan, D.C., to Receive Honorary Degree
Sr. Carol Keehan, a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, will address this year’s graduates and receive an honorary degree at the Jesuit School of Theology’s commencement ceremony on May 25.
Sister Carol is a tireless public advocate for equitable access to health care and for preserving the long tradition of Catholic health care in a rapidly changing economic landscape. Amid often fierce public debates, Sister Carol has been a passionate champion for the poor and uninsured.
Since 2005, Sister Carol has served as president and chief executive officer of the Catholic Health Association of the United States. CHA is comprised of more than 600 hospitals, and 1,400 long term care and other health facilities in 50 states. Catholic health care is the largest group of nonprofit health care providers in the nation. Every day, one in six patients in the U.S. is cared for in a Catholic hospital.
Sister Carol’s interventions were critical in the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, which dramatically increased the number of Americans with health care insurance coverage. For these efforts, in 2010, Sister Carol was named one of Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” and “Person of the Year” by the National Catholic Reporter.
Sr. Carol is a fitting honoree. She offers our graduates a distinctive model of service in the Church. Her honor recognizes our graduates serving in Catholic health care settings and those engaged in formation of public policy. She also exemplifies courageous leadership in the public square. Amid her international acclaim and many honors, Carol has never forgotten her roots as a religious sister, offering her life in service to others, particularly those most overlooked.