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There are three clear passions Kathe has in her life: her family, her work, and her advocacy in the field of health care.
A teen mother at the age of 15, Kathe overcame incredible hardship in her early years and graduated from high school a year early. She went on to earn a degree in nursing and attained three master’s degrees: an MBA, an MSN, and an MSPH. Her four grown children, of whom she is immensely proud, are all college graduates.
After completing her extensive education, Kathe worked as a medical and surgical nurse and progressed to working in the cardio-thoracic ICU.
“For 11 years, I worked as an Organ Procurement Coordinator,” Kathe says. “My work in this area inspired me to become a living kidney donor in 2003.”
Kathe has not only given her physical body to the field of health care, but her intellectual and charitable talents as well.
“Currently, I work as a Community Health Nurse Coordinator,” Kathe says. “I set up home health and hospice for patients in the local community. I am extremely passionate about patient advocacy and the quality of health care.”
Suffice it to say, Kathe is a hero in the eyes of many who know her and work with her. But the work she’s devoted her life to has come with a cost.
“I have back problems, likely from years of heavy lifting as a nurse,” she says. “The very first provider at Signature Orthopedics I saw was Dr. Daniel Sohn, who has treated both my lumbar and thoracic spine. He has the absolute best bedside manner, as does his colleague Misty, a nurse practitioner who has treated me intermittently for spasm flare-ups. It’s always nice to catch up with Dr. Sohn, hearing about his latest marathon or his daughter, who also works in health care.”
It isn’t just the practitioners who show care and concern for Kathe, but the office staff as well.
“The staff in the office are always so professional, yet they have a personal touch as well,” she says. “When I walk in the office, Carol, the office receptionist, always greets me by name. I believe that this is one of the highest regards a person can show another. I'm not just an insurance card with a name on it. They actually know me and they go out of their way to accommodate my needs. It makes me feel special.”
Dr. Sohn isn’t the only Signature Orthopedics doctor Kathe has seen. She has also received care from Dr. Colleen Glisson, an orthopedic physician who performed surgery on Kathe’s wrist and repaired cartilage tears.
“Dr. Glisson is the most mild-mannered surgeon I have ever encountered, in my work or in my own care,” she says. “She is knowledgeable and highly skilled at what she does.”
Some people might choose to take a break after experiencing so many medical procedures, but Kathe isn’t one of them. She’s currently writing a book about patient advocacy and quality health care. “I have advocated for many family and friends over the years and I am currently writing a book, which is not yet titled. Using my experience, I want to tell the world what good health care is and what it means to provide truly excellent care for patients.” +
Fun Facts About Kathe
What’s on your summer reading list? It is sad to say, but I am still trying to recover from my three graduate degrees so I don't read much beyond a few bible scriptures or daily devotionals.
What place is on your travel bucket list? I would love to go to Dubai!
If you could smell only one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? Choosing one scent is hard, but it would be either vanilla or jasmine.
If you could have dinner with any three people, who would be on the guest list? Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry and Ellen DeGeneres.
Do you have a hidden talent? I don't really have any hidden talents necessarily, but I am passionate about health care advocacy and relish in speaking publicly about health care disparities.