{"id":6624,"date":"2024-10-22T15:08:25","date_gmt":"2024-10-22T15:08:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/?p=6624"},"modified":"2025-03-28T13:55:18","modified_gmt":"2025-03-28T17:55:18","slug":"wilmu-faculty-spotlight-from-juvenile-diabetes-patient-to-compassionate-nurse-educator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/2024\/10\/22\/wilmu-faculty-spotlight-from-juvenile-diabetes-patient-to-compassionate-nurse-educator\/","title":{"rendered":"WilmU Faculty Spotlight: From Juvenile Diabetes Patient to Compassionate Nurse Educator"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading6624_4af2ab-a3, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading6624_4af2ab-a3[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading6624_4af2ab-a3\"]{display:block;padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-md, 2rem);text-align:center;font-size:var(--global-kb-font-size-sm, 0.9rem);font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-family:proxima-nova;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading6624_4af2ab-a3 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading6624_4af2ab-a3[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading6624_4af2ab-a3\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading6624_4af2ab-a3 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading6624_4af2ab-a3[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading6624_4af2ab-a3\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<span class=\"kt-adv-heading6624_4af2ab-a3 wu-subheading wp-block-kadence-advancedheading has-kb-palette-14-color has-text-color\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading6624_4af2ab-a3\">Kathryn Leach<\/span>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column6624_c13566-7f > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);}.kadence-column6624_c13566-7f > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column6624_c13566-7f > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column6624_c13566-7f > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column6624_c13566-7f > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column6624_c13566-7f > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column6624_c13566-7f > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column6624_c13566-7f{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column6624_c13566-7f > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column6624_c13566-7f > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column6624_c13566-7f\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p><strong>Dr. Kathryn Leach<\/strong> will never forget the first time she had to give herself a shot \u2014 as a scared 15-year-old hospitalized with newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI can feel my palms getting sweaty remembering that moment and how supportive the nurse was,\u201d she says. \u201cI think, from that point on, I knew I wanted to go into nursing.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thirty years later, Dr. Leach is \u201cliving in gratitude\u201d while serving as chair of Wilmington University\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilmu.edu\/health\/dnp.aspx\">Doctor of Nursing Practice<\/a> (DNP) program and caring for medically complex patients as a pediatric nurse practitioner with the Compass Care Program at Children\u2019s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI look at things from a different perspective because I care for kids who are medically complex and see the challenges that come with that,\u201d she says. \u201cIt, in a lot of ways, makes me a more empathetic and understanding person.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her current patients \u201chave two or more complex chronic conditions\u201d and require extensive assistance. Earlier in her career, Dr. Leach treated children with diabetes, drawing on her own experience to ease their fears.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A WilmU graduate, she suffered another life-changing event while working toward her DNP eight years ago. Her brother, Capt. <strong>Christopher Leach<\/strong> of the Wilmington Fire Department, died in the line of duty \u201cdoing what he loved to do.\u201d He was 41.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s just something else that makes you really grateful for every day that you have,\u201d Dr. Leach says. \u201cThe WilmU community was just amazing. The outpouring of love and support was really overwhelming.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide wu-blockquote-row is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ad2f72ca wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote wu-blockquote-simple is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Dr. Leach has a natural ability to encourage those around her,&nbsp;Leading by example and taking initiative make her an invaluable asset to our University.<\/p>\n<cite>\u2014 Dr. Denise Welss<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Now she\u2019s the person others turn to for comfort and inspiration.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI would describe Dr. Leach as someone who serves unconditionally without expecting anything in return,\u201d says <strong>Dr. Elaine Cartagena-Morales<\/strong>, a nurse administrator at NYC Health + Hospitals\/Harlem who earned her DNP and MBA at WilmU. \u201cShe 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.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDr. Leach has a natural ability to encourage those around her,\u201d says <strong>Dr. Denise Wells<\/strong>, WilmU\u2019s vice president of academic affairs. \u201cLeading by example and taking initiative make her an invaluable asset to our University.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As DNP chair, Dr. Leach helped revise the curriculum, \u201censuring students acquire the requisite competencies to succeed in today\u2019s complex health care environment,\u201d says <strong>Dr. Aaron Sebach<\/strong>, dean of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilmu.edu\/health\/indexh.aspx\">College of Health Professions and Natural Sciences<\/a>. He calls her \u201ca passionate and innovative leader who always puts students first.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cShe guides her students to think critically and to apply the best available evidence to solve complex health care problems,\u201d says DNP and MBA graduate <strong>Dr. Hershaw Davis Jr.<\/strong>, an assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. \u201cHer guidance fundamentally shaped my career and continues to influence my teaching.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From the classroom to the hospital room, Dr. Leach touches lives with her knowledge, dedication, compassion and optimism.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou just have to keep doing the best that you can every day\u201d she says, stressing the importance of celebrating \u201cthe smaller things in life that bring so much joy\u201d \u2014 like her 1-year-old daughter\u2019s first steps.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kathryn Leach Dr. Kathryn Leach 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