Connie Curran, 67, the first executive director of C-Change, died Nov. 10.
C-Change brings together leaders in cancer from the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors.
Curran was born in Berlin, Wis. She held degrees from the University of Wisconsin, DePaul University, and Northern Illinois University. She also is a graduate of Harvard University Business School’s Owner/President Management program.
One of her first appointments was at the University of San Francisco School of Nursing, where she served as a dean and faculty member from 1977-1981.
At the time of her death, Curran was chairman of the board of DeVry Education Group, the parent corporation for DeVry University, Chamberlain School of Nursing, and others. She also served on the board of Hospira Inc., and was previously on the boards of Volcano, Pyxis, Allegiance, Cardiodynamics, and IDX.
She was also a board member at DePaul University; Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago; and the University of Wisconsin Foundation. She also is a past chair of Silver Cross Hospital and formerly was a board member of the National Student Nurses Association.
She also was vice president of the American Hospital Association; the founding dean of the former Medical College of Wisconsin School of Nursing; chair of nursing at Montefiore Medical Center (N.Y.); and vice chair of APM Inc.
In 1995, Curran founded CurranCare in 1995, a national health care consulting and management company, which was acquired in 2000 by Cardinal Health. Curran authored more than 200 scholarly articles and research projects. She is the first editor emeritus of Nursing Economics, which she led editorially for more than 18 years.
She is survived by daughter Melissa Curran, son-in-law Adam Oberweiser, and grandson Oliver Oberweiser. She also is survived by her father Pat Curran; siblings Colleen Raterman; Tom Curran; Ann Curran Gleichert; Mary Curran; and Patty Curran; and former husband and friend, Donovan Riley.
A memorial gathering sponsored by DePaul University, is planned for December 6, 2014, 10 a.m., at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Chicago.
Memorials can be made in Curran’s name to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, or the University of Wisconsin Foundation/School of Nursing.
