Trailblazer Spotlight: Dr. Kathi Katz, assistant professor

“You are the future.”

Dr. Kathi Katz is an assistant professor at the USF Health College of Nursing. Throughout her career, she has held many leadership roles and impacted the lives of countless patients, peers and students.

Since starting her role in 2012, Katz teaches courses in undergraduate and graduate programs that focus on leadership, improving population health care and health promotion. She also works with faculty on articles, quality improvement activities and course development.

Katz brings more than 20 years of leadership knowledge to the classroom. In 1992, she was the Vice President of Nursing and Patient Service at a hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey. By 2002, she was promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer. In 2009, she left New Jersey and began her journey here in Florida at Tampa General Hospital, where she was the Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer until 2012.

Katz says she enjoys leading and supporting nursing excellence. Those traits helped her improve the quality of nursing at two large Academic Medical Centers.

“During my time serving as the chief nursing office at these facilities, we sought and achieved Magnet Recognition at both hospitals,” she said. Magnet Recognition is considered the highest recognition for nursing excellence. The program allows patients to easily identify hospitals where they can expect to receive a higher level of care.

During her years at USF, Katz has received nine accolades from the college. The awards recognized her leadership, innovative teaching and most recently in 2021, her dedication, when students nominated her for the RN-BSN Faculty Award.

The feelings are mutual – Katz says her favorite part about working at the college is the people.

“The wonderful faculty, staff and students I have the pleasure working with each day,” she explained. “The opportunity for collaboration with other faculty and staff… The students, with their knowledge, enthusiasm and energy.”

She wants students to know, “You are the future.”

“You have the knowledge and skills to make lasting improvements to the provision of health care services. Never stop learning or seeking opportunities to make a difference to improve health care or the health of the population.”

Story by Cassidy Delamarter