Kathryn completed a BA in History at Brandeis University and her MSN at the MGH Institute of Health Professions in the dual track, where she was inducted into the Sigma International Honors Society of Nursing. She obtained certifications as an Adult NP and Psychiatric Mental Health NP. She directed nursing operations at the Hill Center at McLean, a program for people with histories of psychological trauma, for 10 years. She has also worked at McLean’s Geriatric Outpatient Clinic and in the associated research programs on mood disorders and dementia, as well as general Outpatient Psychiatry and in the Consultation Liaison service at Salem Hospital. Teaching at the MGH Institute as a Term Lecturer 2021-2022 solidified a growing interest in teaching, and she now serves as an Instructor in the School of Nursing teaching Mental Health nursing.
Kathryn has longstanding interests in how psychological trauma affects the mind, body, relationships and functioning of individuals and groups. Honoring different ways of knowing, while upholding rigorous scientific methods and centering evidence-based treatment, is a hallmark of her research, clinical, and teaching work. She has research and clinical interests in shared decision-making, patient-centered care, de-prescribing, trauma informed care, and trauma-spectrum disorders throughout the lifespan. Recent work has focused on myth as a form of narrative in treating psychological trauma, and evaluation in healthcare education. Her updated chapter on Trauma-Informed Medication Education was published in January 2026 in Psychotherapy for the Advanced Practice Nurse, 4th Edition.
- BA, History, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
- MSN, Nursing, MGHIHP, Charlestown, MA
Holistic health, psychosomatic conditions, psychological trauma, trauma-informed care, group therapy, innovative psychiatric treatment, how oppression and lived experience of trauma affects healthcare access and reception, evaluation in education.
Kathryn has published numerous papers - some titles are highlighted below. You can view a complete listing of Kathryn's publications on Google Scholar or in her CV.
Evaluations are a fascinating intersection of important issues in nursing: effectiveness, incivility, the nursing faculty shortage, burnout and resilience. Making sure nursing voices are included in these conversations is paramount.
Likewise, predatory conferences may not be as well-understood as predatory journals, especially among early-career faculty and doctoral students. Raising the profile of these practices will help protect nurses from harm.
Identifying and Avoiding Predatory Conferences.
Myths have been used throughout history to make sense of violence, but in clinical work they have been mostly kept in the minds of practitioners, not used as a therapeutic tool. Post-traumatic stress disorder treatments are still plagued by drop-out, and innovative approaches are badly needed.
Truth in myth: Ancient stories’ windows on treating modern trauma.
Dissociative Identity Disorder is poorly understood in the general public and within the healthcare professions. School nurses may see students with dissociative symptoms and need hands-on examples and evidence-based advice and resources, which this article series provides.
Select Presentations
Kieran, K. Are We Feedback Literate? Avoiding Pitfalls, Maximizing Benefits, Poster, Nashua, NH 10/2025
Non-Organic Vision Loss Panel, American Academy of Optometry 10/9/2025
Trauma-Informed OBGYN Care, Atrius Health OBGYN Department 10/16/2024
Kieran, K. & Lewandowski, C. Unexpected allies: A trauma informed eye care interdisciplinary collaboration, Podium presentation, APNA Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL 2023
