LVHN Leaders Recognized as Women of Influence by Lehigh Valley Business

Each year, Lehigh Valley Business honors the region’s most accomplished and impactful businesswomen with the Influential Women in Business Award. 
 
These exceptional women are leaders in their fields. They are committed to making the region a better place to live and provide shining examples of excellence and integrity. They also give the invaluable gift of time to others by making it a priority to mentor the next generation of leaders.
 
This year, three Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) leaders are being recognized for their career accomplishments. LVHN is proud to celebrate this year’s winners.

Denise Kaplan received the Lehigh Valley Business Women of Influence Circle of Excellence Award for 2024. She oversees all operational aspects of LVPG and is passionate about quality patient experiences and making positive impacts on the community. To achieve these outcomes, Kaplan creates an environment where colleagues can tap into their passions so they can be at their best and provide the high-quality care patients expect and deserve.
 
Kaplan actively mentors colleagues across LVHN and feels privileged when colleagues grow into effective, capable and compassionate leaders.

Karen Clark, DNP, RN, began her career as a nurse at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest in 1987 and returned to LVHN when she joined Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital in 2018 as Vice President of Patient Care Services.
 
Working in health care has been a lifelong passion for Clark. She believes she and her team have made positive, meaningful impacts in the quality of care women and children in the community receive.  
 
Clark is involved with the community and regularly participates in volunteer work. She is also active in cultivating the next generation of leaders as a nurse liaison at local universities and through her mentoring work within LVHN.

Jennifer Stephens, DO, is committed to providing high-quality, safe care to the community. She has spent her entire career at LVHN and is grateful for the opportunities she has been afforded to lead change, foster quality improvement and promote good health for our community.
 
 A career in health care has been extremely rewarding for Dr. Stephens, and she is grateful for the opportunity to be part her patients’ journeys. 
 
Dr. Stephens is focused on optimizing the care of our community through population health initiatives such as those supporting patients with diabetes and high blood pressure. She is also an advocate and drives organizational interventions around preventive screenings to promote health and wellness across the community.

An event honoring this year’s winners was held May 8 at DeSales University in Center Valley.