Medical Advisory Board

Sharon A. McNamara, is an internationally recognized speaker, author, and consultant on perioperative practice. She is the current owner/consultant for OR Dx + Rx Solutions for Surgical Safety, author/coordinator of the Patient Safety First column for the Association of Peri Operative Registered Nurses, AORN Journal. Additionally, McNamara is a perioperative consultant for Michigan Professional Exchange Services (MPIE) and the North Carolina Hospital Association Center for Quality and Patient Safety. Previously she held the position of director of surgical services for WakeMed Health and Hospitals in Raleigh, North Carolina. She had responsibility for clinical and fiscal performance of perioperative services on the Raleigh Campus of the health system. Prior to joining WakeMed, McNamara was the director of surgical services and had responsibility for surgical services operations for the two city hospitals at Kaleida Health in Buffalo, New York.

McNamara earned an ADN from Trocaire College, a BSN from Daemen College, and an MS from D’Youville College in Buffalo, New York. She has 45 plus years of perioperative experience. McNamara was the 2005-2006 national president of AORN, and also served as President-elect, Secretary, and Board of Directors. During her presidency, AORN led a national “time out” campaign to eliminate medication errors. McNamara served as 2010 chair of the Council on Surgical & Perioperative Safety (CSPS), 2009 Vice Chair, and 2008 Secretary/Treasurer. She was the 2018 Jerry G. Peers Award recipient.