Darlene A. Burns, R.N., MHA, graduated from the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Watertown, New York in 1970 and earned a master’s degree in health care administration from the New School for Social Research in 1991.

She started her career at Rome Memorial Hospital in 1972 as a charge nurse.  Moving up through the nursing and administration ranks, she served as Director of Nursing from 1982 to 1989, when she was named Assistant Hospital Administrator. She served as Interim Hospital Administrator in 1992, was promoted from Senior Vice President/Clinical Services to Senior Vice President/Chief Operating Officer in 2001, and became President/CEO in 2002, serving as the hospital’s leader until she retired in 2010. She returned as Interim President/CEO from August 2015- March 2016

Appointed to the College Council in 2012, she is actively involved in numerous professional and community organizations and has been recognized for her professionalism and dedication through the years.