Dr. Kathryn Leach will never forget the first time she had to give herself a shot — as a scared 15-year-old hospitalized with newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetes.
“I can feel my palms getting sweaty remembering that moment and how supportive the nurse was,” she says. “I think, from that point on, I knew I wanted to go into nursing.”
Thirty years later, Dr. Leach is “living in gratitude” while serving as chair of Wilmington University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program and caring for medically complex patients as a pediatric nurse practitioner with the Compass Care Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
“I look at things from a different perspective because I care for kids who are medically complex and see the challenges that come with that,” she says. “It, in a lot of ways, makes me a more empathetic and understanding person.”
Her current patients “have two or more complex chronic conditions” and require extensive assistance. Earlier in her career, Dr. Leach treated children with diabetes, drawing on her own experience to ease their fears.
A WilmU graduate, she suffered another life-changing event while working toward her DNP eight years ago. Her brother, Capt. Christopher Leach of the Wilmington Fire Department, died in the line of duty “doing what he loved to do.” He was 41.
“It’s just something else that makes you really grateful for every day that you have,” Dr. Leach says. “The WilmU community was just amazing. The outpouring of love and support was really overwhelming.”
Dr. Leach has a natural ability to encourage those around her, Leading by example and taking initiative make her an invaluable asset to our University.
— Dr. Denise Welss
Now she’s the person others turn to for comfort and inspiration.
“I would describe Dr. Leach as someone who serves unconditionally without expecting anything in return,” says Dr. Elaine Cartagena-Morales, a nurse administrator at NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem who earned her DNP and MBA at WilmU. “She was so easy to work with and talk to while still being professional, supportive and positive towards my learning and education. She made the impossible possible and cheered me on.”
“Dr. Leach has a natural ability to encourage those around her,” says Dr. Denise Wells, WilmU’s vice president of academic affairs. “Leading by example and taking initiative make her an invaluable asset to our University.”
As DNP chair, Dr. Leach helped revise the curriculum, “ensuring students acquire the requisite competencies to succeed in today’s complex health care environment,” says Dr. Aaron Sebach, dean of the College of Health Professions and Natural Sciences. He calls her “a passionate and innovative leader who always puts students first.”
“She guides her students to think critically and to apply the best available evidence to solve complex health care problems,” says DNP and MBA graduate Dr. Hershaw Davis Jr., an assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. “Her guidance fundamentally shaped my career and continues to influence my teaching.”
From the classroom to the hospital room, Dr. Leach touches lives with her knowledge, dedication, compassion and optimism.
“You just have to keep doing the best that you can every day” she says, stressing the importance of celebrating “the smaller things in life that bring so much joy” — like her 1-year-old daughter’s first steps.
