Amy Hoey

Amy Hoey ’88 launched her career as a unit secretary, transcribing and documenting doctors’ notes and orders. Today, she serves as president of Lowell General Hospital – the first registered nurse in the hospital’s 133-year history to do so.

She credits her rise through the ranks of health care to a solid education and a work environment that constantly challenges her.

“UMass Lowell is where I received a high-quality, affordable education, made lifelong friends, met my husband Tom and found the reason to make this area my home,” says Hoey, who resides in Groton. “I’m proud that my daughter Abigail just graduated from UML’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, the only public program of its kind in Massachusetts.”

Raised in Amherst, Hoey wanted to venture beyond her hometown for college, but she needed to attend a college she could afford. She enrolled at UMass Lowell (UML) and majored in health education.

“I knew I wanted to work in health care, but since my mom and sister were nurses, I decided to try something different at first,” says Hoey.

That didn’t last for long. After earning her degree, she worked as a unit secretary at St. John’s Hospital (now Lowell General’s Saints Campus) and took classes at Salem State University at night to become a registered nurse. For five years, she worked as a registered nurse in the medical surgical and critical care units at Lowell General Hospital.

Over the next two decades, she advanced through leadership roles, serving as chief nursing officer and then chief operating officer, before landing the role of president in 2022.

“I was very fortunate in my career that as Lowell General Hospital has grown, I was able to grow with it,” says Hoey. “The main thing I find most rewarding in my job is the impact on the patients and families we care for. We’ve managed mergers, opened four urgent care centers and guided our community through the COVID-19 pandemic. No two days are the same.”

Hoey’s leadership skills have roots that stretch back to her childhood. Growing up as the fourth of five sisters, Hoey learned how to negotiate and listen.

“I wasn’t the youngest or the oldest in my family, so I grew up being empathetic to all sides and tried my best to find common ground,” says Hoey. “This has served me well in my career, along with volunteering for committees, staying curious about how things work and being open to new opportunities.”

Since graduating from UMass Lowell, Hoey has stayed involved. She serves as chair of the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences Advisory Board, is a member of the UMass Lowell Athletics Advisory Board and takes on volunteer roles such as judging the DifferenceMaker Idea Challenge.

“UMass Lowell is a gem,” she says. “I love that it’s a place for first-generation students and that it has such a vibrant campus community.”