Earning a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Northern Michigan University in 1977, Judith M. Murray, BSN, RN, began her career in the neurology unit at Ascension Borgess Hospital that same year. Subsequently, she worked in the medical intensive care unit at St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor Hospital from 1978 to 1980. Furthering her skills, she has sought additional certifications over the years, including in peripherally inserted central catheter, chemotherapy, advanced and basic cardiac life support, and as a first aid trainer and certified institutional review board professional. In 1980, Ms. Murray joined Munson Medical Center, where she has excelled in a variety of roles ever since.
From 1980 to 1983, Ms. Murray held positions in cardiac care, the cardiac catheterization lab and cardiac rehab with Munson Medical Center. She went on to work in the nursing pool in 1984 and the oncology unit in 1985, and she was a manager in the outpatient infusion clinic from 1986 to 1988. Becoming a radiologic nurse and manager in 1988, she notably established the department of nursing for radiology, angiography and ultrasound as Munson’s first radiologic nurse and was also one of the first nurses to do chemotherapy treatments at the medical center. In 1990, Ms. Murray moved to work in venous access specialty with Munson and from 2001 to 2009, she was an educator for staff development for the medical center.
While working as a health care educator in 2006, Ms. Murray was encouraged by one of the administrators to apply for the recently opened position of institutional review board manager. After having the initial interview, she received a call offering her the position later that same day, telling her that she was the perfect candidate. Excelling as the IRB manager ever since, she has garnered significant expertise in federal regulations and is seated as a board member of Munson Healthcare’s institutional review board as well. Today, Ms. Murray’s primary duties include developing the IRB program and managing regulatory oversight of research for Munson Healthcare, the medical center’s parent health system.
Considering achieving the position of IRB manager to be the highlight of her career, Ms. Murray is proud to have been able to lead Munson Medical Center to pass all of the required inspections of the Food and Drug Administration. She has made a considerable impact in the changes she has brought to the health care system, including changes to the dress code to allow for colors other than white to be worn by staff. In addition, she works closely with the pharmacists and physicians conducting research to ensure that everyone involved in any given project is properly credentialed. Looking toward the future, Ms. Murray plans to expand their research program and bring on an additional person to help manage the IRB program.
Alongside her primary career responsibilities, Ms. Murray has contributed her expertise to a number of councils and committees at Munson Medical Center. She holds membership in the American Nurses Association, the Society of Clinical Research Associates and Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research and has served as an instructor for both the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association. Active in her local community, she has served as a volunteer for 4H, the Zonta Club of Traverse City, the National Cherry Festival, the Grand Traverse Heritage Center, the New Hope Community Church and several Christian schools.
Attributing much of her success to her professional drive and an innate hunger for knowledge, Ms. Murray considers her greatest accomplishment to be establishing the program for nurses in the radiology department and being the first radiologic nurse at Munson Medical Center. For her more than four decades of excellence at Munson, she has been the recipient of a number of honors and accolades. Being named a Most Valuable Person (MVP), Ms. Murray was one of the nurses that conducted the first nursing research project, which was a vital component in the Munson Medical Center receiving its first nursing Magnet Award, an award for nursing excellence. That opportunity to be involved in the nursing research project, spurred Ms. Murray on the path to continue to work in medical research.
