Dr. Karen Jones Bankston’s life and career are distinguished by five decades of transformative executive leadership and advocacy, defined not only by her personal journey, but her resounding impact in health care administration, nursing education in Cincinnati and beyond.
Raised in Youngstown, Ohio, Bankston is the eldest child of a single mother from a multigenerational household. An unexpected teen pregnancy changed her trajectory; the encouragement of her family helped her succeed. She completed high school as an honor student before welcoming her first child. Rather than let those early challenges define her, Bankston pursued nursing at Youngstown State University, initiating a career that would eventually reshape the fundamentals of health care systems.
“When I talk to young women about choices and things of that nature, they say, ‘Well, you’re telling us not to do it, but you did it,’” said Bankston, referencing her pregnancy in her senior year of high school. “I say, ‘Yes, I did, but I’m not saying that’s the right way to do it.’ What I’m saying is, ‘Can you still have your life and move on?’ Yes – but is that the best way to do it? No, it’s not.”
Bankston began her career as an emergency department nurse, a demanding experience she credits with cultivating her rapid assessment and decision-making skills.
“I absolutely believe that being an ER nurse was the foundation for my abilities and my successes in administration, because you have to really do quick assessments, synthesize information, make a decision, evaluate your decision,” she said.
While working and raising two sons as a divorced, single mother, she obtained undergraduate and advanced degrees from Kent State University, traveling 45 miles each way, balancing her education with family and professional life. Support from her extended family enabled her to accept leadership opportunities at her hospital. She stepped into a management position, and a passion for organizational change was ignited.
“It was then that I began to transition and had some idea of what this meant in terms of leading others,” said Bankston. “There is no training on being a new boss. But my boss saw something in me because of the initiative that I had as a clinical nurse in the emergency room.”
Soon, Bankston was asked to be a director. To facilitate that role she had focused her graduate education in behavioral health and administration – very different from her previous experiences.
“It ended up being one of the best decisions I made, because it has supported me throughout these over-40 years in administration,” said Bankston.
Following a graduate internship at the University of Cincinnati Hospital, Bankston was offered an administrative position there. She accepted, moved to Cincinnati and subsequently played a key role as an executive during a period of healthcare transformation in Cincinnati. This included University Hospital’s transition from public to a private, not-for-profit facility and the establishment of the Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati.
Appointed as the Vice President Patient Care Services/Chief Nursing Officer at The University Hospital, Bankston helped shape the region’s hospital system consolidation. She helped launch the Center for Closing the Health Gap. Bankston was appointed VP/Chief Operating Officer of University Hospital. She later became Senior Vice President for External Relations for the Health Alliance before assuming the role as SVP/CEO of the Drake Center. After completing 6 years there, she managed to fulfill her dream of teaching and research in 2012, becoming an associate dean of nursing at the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing. Since then, her academic and policy work has extended to national forums through leadership with the American Nurses Association, the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) and others. Even after formal retirement, she continues to mentor, consult and drive change.
Dr. Bankston’s career is marked by numerous honors, including induction as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and the American College of Health Care Executives. She has served on boards and committees across the region, including the United Way of Greater Cincinnati, Interact for Health, the Society for St. Vincent DePaul, the Children’s Home, the Council on Aging and the Urban League of Southwest Ohio. Bankston was founding chair of the Center for Closing the Health Gap. She has continuously worked to create a more just and inclusive community.
“When I got the letter saying I had been nominated and accepted to be inducted into the [AAN], it was a great ending to my professional career,” said Bankston, who retired the following year.
“In my head, I’m still that little girl from 1323 Hawn Street on the east side of Youngstown. I thank God I’ve never gotten to a point where I have forgotten any of those values, because still having those values has allowed me to support others.”
