Farmington – Former Franklin Memorial Hospital Chief Operating Officer Jill Berry Bowen was recently presented the annual Health Leadership Award at Franklin Community Health Network’s annual meeting for “exemplary leadership during her 12-year tenure, as well as countless hours of community service.”

Beginning as a registered nurse, Bowen rose in the ranks at Franklin Memorial Hospital to become COO, a position she held for nine years. In that position, she directed operations and handled fiscal activities for the 70-bed hospital, and guided the facility successfully through two Joint Commission of Accreditation of Health Care Organizations surveys, receiving recognition for the latter by increasing the hospital’s ranking to the top quartile nationally.

Bowen left her post last December to take the position of vice president of Patient Care Services at Mercy Hospital in Portland, a 230-bed facility.

Bowen earned her bachelor’s degree in community health at the University of Maine at Farmington, and a year later, an associate degree in nursing from Central Maine Medical Center. From there, she embarked pon a nursing career at Franklin Memorial Intensive Care Unit and at Mid-Maine Medical Center’s Cardiac Care Unit.

Ten years later in 1993, Bowen received her master’s degree in business administration and communication at Thomas College. She left an administrative position with North Country Associates to return to Franklin Memorial Hospital, this time as vice president of Human Resources/Quality Improvement. Three years later, she was promoted to the position of COO.

As a Rotarian dedicated to community service, Bowen has played an instrumental role in several well-known Farmington Rotary projects over the years including the rodeo, Tanya Tucker concert, and the annual pancake breakfast. She also helped establish the club’s annual Community Service Awards to honor and recognize entrepreneurs and community leaders.

Her Rotarian work continues through her recent transfer to the Royal River Rotary Club of Yarmouth.