Ms. Thompson is a graduate of Kings County Center School of Nursing, where she earned her Diploma. She then received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with Honors in 1963 and a Master of Science in Administration from Long Island University in 1970.

The recipient of many awards, which include Sigma Theta Thau, Excellence in Administration, EMS award in 1990 from the people of the city of New York, the Red Cross Award, the Black Nurses Award. Mary initiated the first Nurse program for Childhood Obesity at Kings County Hospital in 1981. Mary was a Wharton Fellow in 1992. She also attended Baruch School of Business. Mary has served on the advisory boards of York College, YWCA and is currently active on the New York Technical College Nursing Program Advisory Board.

Mary has taught at the Nursing School and college level and is an adjunct professor at St. Joseph's College in Brooklyn. She is a member of the coordinating Council of the Greater New York Hospital Association. At HHC, she chaired the HHC Council of Nursing Directors for four years.

In her career at the New York City Health and Hospital Corporation, she has served as Deputy Director of Nursing at Kings County Hospital Center, as well as Deputy Director of Patient Care Services at Queens Hospital Center. For the past 8 years Ms. Thompson has served with distinction as Chief Operating Officer of Bellevue Hospital in New York City.