In Memoriam: Carolyn ‘Sue’ King, CPMSM, CPHQ, CPCS

by Michelle Stultz, RN, CPMSM, CPCS, FMSP

NAMSS is remembering Carolyn “Sue” King, who passed away last month in Oklahoma. She was one of the NAMSS pioneers who laid the foundation and mission of NAMSS.

A medical services professional (MSP) since 1972, Sue’s dedication to our profession, the healthcare organizations she served, OkAMSS, and NAMSS was unparalleled. To highlight a few of her NAMSS accomplishments: Sue served as chair of Bylaws Committee, chair of Education Council, Great Lakes Region Representative on the NAMSS Board (now referred to as a director at large), and was our NAMSS President in 1986–1987. Sue’s dedication to education and the development of MSPs was her passion. She was on NAMSS faculty for 22 years, participating in program content development at that time, which included the core curriculum and certification preparation programs. While she taught all the NAMSS programs, her favorite was certification preparation. Sue was also an instructor and advisory board member for medical staff services sciences at Cypress College, California.

While I never formally met Sue, I sure admired her from a distance. By the time I joined NAMSS in 1995, Sue was well established, well known, and certainly popular at the NAMSS Educational Conference. Everyone wanted time with her, and she was very gracious with it. I am told she had a wonderful sense of humor and would use it to be the voice of reason in meetings and lead consensus decisions.

Sue was inducted into the NAMSS Hall of Fame in October 2017. I read the nomination letters from leading MSPs in the field indicating just how much of an icon Sue was to them. Here are a couple quotes from the letters:

“She instilled in all of us a desire to give our fellow MSPs opportunities to succeed through continuous education. Sue has mentored and counselled countless MSPs though her career.”    

“Sue has a gift for building up people and encouraging them to be the best that they can be. Sue is my ‘giant’ and although many newer MPS do not know it, she is their ‘giant’ as well.” 

Author, chairperson, educator, mentor, president, hall of famer — Sue King has done it all! Her contributions to the medical services profession are an important part of where NAMSS is today. Thank you, Sue. Rest in peace.