Kathryn A. Osteen

Dr. Kathryn A. Osteen serves as Associate Dean for the Pre-Licensure Program and Clinical Professor at Baylor University's Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON), holding these positions since joining the faculty in 2002 with over 20 years of teaching experience. Her academic leadership spans curriculum development and faculty mentorship across undergraduate and graduate nursing programs.

Her educational foundation includes a PhD from the University of Texas at Arlington and both MSN and BSN degrees from Baylor University. Prior clinical experience encompasses 28+ years in adult cardiac intensive care and critical care nursing at Dallas hospitals, including roles as Medicine Nurse Educator at Parkland Health System.

Driven by her personal experience as a congenital heart disease survivor (born with bicuspid aortic valve requiring surgical repair after twin/singleton pregnancies), Dr. Osteen's research focuses intensely on Congenital Heart Disease advocacy, Women's Health/Family Planning, and Heart Failure management. Her work bridges clinical practice with legislative advocacy, influencing federal policy through Washington D.C. CHD Legislative Conferences and fundraising initiatives for The Children's Heart Foundation.

Recent publications reveal strong thematic concentration on heart failure self-management, with particular emphasis on medication adherence mechanisms, biomarker applications, and stress-coping frameworks. Her scholarly output spans cardiovascular nursing, qualitative methodology, and women's health in congenital cardiac populations, demonstrating interdisciplinary integration of clinical practice and theoretical frameworks.

Dr. Osteen has earned significant recognition including:

• 2013 Mary Lou Bond Endowed Fellowship Award
• 2018 Great 100 Nurses
• 2020 Dallas Magazine Excellence in Nursing Award (Leadership)
• 2021 American Heart Association Heart of the Mission Award

As an educator, she mentors undergraduate/graduate students and faculty while advising Bears Helping Hearts student organization. Her committee service includes University Undergraduate Curriculum Committee and Mentoring Committee, alongside national roles with Sigma Theta Tau International and American Heart Association.

Organizational leadership defines her external impact: National Board Member and Advocacy Chair for The Children's Heart Foundation, co-Chair of the Congenital Heart Public Health Consortium (AAP initiative), and member of AHA's Council on Lifelong Congenital Heart Disease. Community engagement extends to local church activities and Boy Scouts of America involvement.