Karen Oliver, R.N., B.S.N.
Partner, Family Rhythms

Karen Oliver earned her B.S.N. from Salem State College School of Nursing in 1986. In that same year, the Massachusetts Board of Nursing certified her as a Registered Nurse (R.N.), a certification that remains current.

Karen began her nursing career working at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center in the Colon and Rectal Surgery Unit where she worked from 1986-1990. She then joined the nursing staff at Boston's Children’s Hospital where she worked in the Orthopedics Unit for the next two years. In 1992, she was hired by the pediatric department of Newton Wellesley Hospital, where she met Dr. Michael McKenzie. In 1996, Michael and two other pediatricians started an after-hours telephone triage service, Night Train Pediatrics, to handle the majority of their evening calls from parents. As they looked for expert nurses to hire, Karen was one of the first they recruited.

Michael was so impressed with Karen’s skills as a pediatric nurse that when a position opened in his practice at Pediatric Associates of Wellesley in 1998, he called her to join their staff. All of the staff and parents, alike, immediately valued her knowledge and relaxed way with parents who called with concerns about their children’s health.

In 1999, Michael founded another after-hours triage service, Pediatrics After-Hours. Karen became his nurse manager for the business, a position she held from 1999 to 2002. It was at this time that Karen and Michael's wife, Lee McKenzie, R.N., MSN, MA got to know each other better. Since that time, they have always held each other in high regard professionally and as friends.

The McKenzies invited Karen to join them in a pilot program for the strengthening of families in 2001 (the forerunner of Family Rhythms). She was an active participant in the parent group and let the McKenzies know that she shared their passion for this work. When Michael decided to leave Pediatric Associates of Wellesley and go out on his own, he and Lee knew that they wanted Karen to join them. Since then, Karen, Lee, and Michael have shared in the dream of creating a unique pediatric medical practice and the even more unique, Family Rhythms.

When their doors opened in October 2002, Karen established herself as an invaluable Office Manager for Michael's private pediatric practice in Natick, Massachusetts. What she brings to this role was obvious to Michael and Lee from the start.

Lee says, "Karen's knowledge of pediatrics, her organizational skills, and her easy way with parents and children made her an obvious choice for our partner. She brings a warmth and sense of humor that we all appreciate. We look forward to what she'll be able to contribute to Family Rhythms. Her life experience as a single parent is proving to be an important benefit."

But Karen isn't just a member of the Family Rhythms staff; she's also a firm believer in the McKenzies' philosophy. Why? Simple. She's had first-hand experience implementing their advice.

Karen recalls, "Being thrown into single motherhood when my daughter was five months old and my son was seven years old was scary at best. Then I started talking to Michael. This was before Family Rhythms had even been conceived. He encouraged me to 'go with my gut' in helping my kids -- especially my son -- with the turmoil in their lives. Michael and Lee both encouraged me to tap into the abilities that they could see in me, when I couldn't see them in myself."

Karen is excited to be a part of Family Rhythms because of the education she can offer parents who are in similar positions to hers. She notes, "Part of being a triage nurse involves teaching families. It's very satisfying knowing that I can provide parents with knowledge that helps them make good physical and emotional decisions for their children. I also bring a different life experience to Family Rhythms. I'm very active with my kids, and I'm involved with travel, youth sports, skiing, school, and extra curricular events and know what it is like to balance the many demands of parenting with work in achieving a satisfying family life."

Although raised in Framingham, Massachusetts, Karen has made her home in Burlington, MA for the past 14 years. She stays busy with her 13-year-old son, Dean, and 6-year-old daughter, Arianna.

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