Sr. Judith Ann Karam, CSA is a member of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, she entered the Congregation in 1964.

She serves as President and CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health System, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, serving Northeast Ohio and South Carolina.  In that role, she oversees the sponsored ministries of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine.  This includes state-of-the-art health care facilities, services to the elderly, three foundations, and community outreach ministries in health, education, and transitional housing.

 Sr. Judith Ann began her health care career in 1962 and has served as pharmacy technician, pharmacist and health care administrator.  She has extensive experience in health care administration including developing a new joint venture hospital, forming health care partnerships, restructuring partnerships, developing conversion foundations, developing a nursing home serving 22 Catholic religious congregations and lecturing on behalf of the uninsured. Before becoming President and CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health System in 1998, Sr. Judith Ann served as Major Superior of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine.  

Sr. Judith Ann is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. She has served on the boards of hospitals and health care since 1973. In 1971 she was inducted into the Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society. In addition to involvement in the System entities, she serves on the national board for New Covenant and the Governance Committee of the Catholic Health Association.  Her numerous community involvements included serving as a board member of:  Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, Midlands Business Council in Columbia, South Carolina; University Hospitals Health System in Cleveland, Ohio.  She also served as a Director of Walsh University in Canton, Ohio, Trustee for Columbia HCA Healthcare Corporation, the American Red Cross, Cleveland Chapter and the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization.  She is a member of: the Health Care and Work Committee of the United Way Health Care Cabinet; and the Alumni Association of The Ohio State University Health Services Management and Policy Program and serves as a lector at St. Ignatius of Antioch Church in Cleveland, Ohio.

In May, 2008, Sr. Judith Ann Karam received the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian award from Governor Mark Sanford and the State of South Carolina.

In 2007, she received from Pope Benedict the XVI the Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice honor and from Bishop Robert Baker the Caritas Award for Service to the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina. 

In 2006, Sr. Judith Ann received the Distinguished Service Medal from Walsh University and earlier the Ohio Hospital Association Distinguished Service Award.  In 2005, she delivered the commencement address at the University of South Carolina Salkehatchie. On May 20, 2002, she was awarded an Honorary Degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, from Ursuline College of Cleveland and was commencement speaker.  Sr. Judith Ann received the Crain’s Cleveland Business 2001 Women of Note Award; the Distinguished Women in Healthcare Award from the Visiting Nurse Association/Healthcare Monitor in 2000 and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from The Ohio State University Health Services Management and Policy program in 1998.

Sr. Judith Ann received her bachelor of science degree in Pharmacy from Duquesne University and a master’s of science in Hospital and Health Services Administration from The Ohio State University.  In 1998, she completed a sabbatical at The American College, Catholic University of Louvain.  She is a 1986 graduate of Leadership Cleveland and an avid Cleveland Indians fan.