Growing up on a small corn and soybean farm outside Chenoa, Illinois, near Bloomington-Normal, Katie (she/her) had attended college in St. Louis and loved living in a big city. So when it was time to decide where to move after graduation she felt ready to make the transition to the biggest city in the Midwest.

Katie was drawn to nursing because she loved that there are so many opportunities to create personal and impactful relationships with patients, and that there were so many paths one could take. Katie has worked in Orthopedics, Trauma, General Surgery, Nursing Management, and Occupational Health.

As her career progressed, she’s grown to appreciate how flexibility and creativity in care delivery can make a world of difference. She was thrilled to see that Birth Center of Chicago heavily prioritizes client autonomy and true partnership between the client and the midwife, and the Birth Center staff are passionate about creating an experience where everyone can feel comfortable and at home in the place where they receive care. Katie is passionate about evidence-based, affirming, thoughtful, and client-centered care experiences, and she wants clients to know she feels honored and humbled they are choosing BCC for care.

Katie started learning guitar at Old Town School of Folk Music in 2013 and has loved it ever since! She grew up listening to her dad and uncles play guitar and sing together and is so glad she took the time to learn so that she could share it with her dad before his death in spring 2021. She’s also enjoyed becoming more politically active in the last 5-6 years. She can be found canvassing her local neighborhood to discuss issues and political candidates she’s passionate about and getting more in tune with what the elected officials who represent her are doing, from her Chicago alderman to the President. Katie says, “Nurses are taught the importance of advocating for their patients early on in their careers, and I think there is major untapped potential in the power of political advocacy in nursing. I firmly believe we all have a duty to act when we see opportunities to make the world a better place for everyone.”

Some more information about Katie: she is a crier. She feels it is such an honor to work in a place where people are having really big life changes; don't be surprised if you see her getting misty with happy tears behind the desk! Katie also loves to bike and run throughout the city, cook, snuggle with her cat, and loves the things that go along well with snuggling with a cat - naps, reading, and watching movies!