By Lisa Breslin
As College of Nursing dean at the Medical University of South Carolina, Cathy Durham’s to-do list is often packed with meetings about strategic planning, academic programs and policies, financial operations, the institutional budget and research infrastructure and support; however, one to-do item that she always enjoys is the Dean Durham Scrubs Tour.
“The tours are some of my best days,” Dr. Durham said. “The students, who come from diverse backgrounds, invite me to shadow them throughout the day. I get to learn about them as students, how they are doing and how I can help. The interactions inspire me. I leave feeling refueled.”
With 28 years of experience as a nurse and a family nurse practitioner, including 28 years in the Navy, Dr. Durham has garnered recognition for her exceptional leadership, receiving awards such as the Navy’s Rising Star and Excellence in Nursing, Meritorious Service Medals and Teaching Excellence Awards.
One book – “Home Before Morning: The Story of an Army Nurse in Vietnam,” by Lynda Van Devanter – served as a source of inspiration while studying to be a nurse. “I knew that I liked caring for people,” Dr. Durham explained. “That book captures what it was like to be a woman who served her country, who navigated caring for people on the front line. It gave me a stronger sense of purpose.”
Though her father went to the Naval Academy, Dr. Durham didn’t think she would take a similar path. “Home Before Morning” shifted her plans completely.
Dr. Durham recognizes that her sense of purpose pivots based on people’s needs as well as her own growth personally and professionally. During her nursing tenure, she recognized the positive outcomes linked to having access to quality health care, and she endeavored to bridge any gaps for underserved populations.
Time spent in critical care sparked her passion to explore ways to prevent chronic conditions that manifest as people age. “My sense of purpose was driven by the question, ‘How do we keep people from being here?’” Dr. Durham explained.
When Dr. Durham became a mother, her purpose pivoted again. “I thought about how to provide for my family and how to have more time with them,” Dr. Durham said. “I transitioned to the reserve and moved back to South Carolina to work in primary care. During this time, I really wanted to learn how to better coordinate patient outcomes, which required more education. I received a flyer for the Doctor of Nursing Program at MUSC and I leapt.”
Dr. Durham’s respect and love for MUSC permeates conversations about her life. “I have been at the college for 13 years now, and I retired from the reserves this summer,” she added. “I felt called to the college more and less to the military. Even though I achieved the rank of captain, what gives me the most joy is the college.”
Dr. Durham has led the College of Nursing since 2012, expanding programs, securing over $2 million in external funding and achieving a notable ranking for DNP Programs. She, her team and generous donors are debunking the myth that the college is private and not accessible to everyone. Student debt is down, and graduation rates are up.
All successes are college successes, not just hers, noted Dr. Durham. “I have an amazing team that inspires me every day. Team members are the backbone, ribs and joints of the college and they care deeply about each other and the college’s mission.”
“I know that I’m in the right space,” Dr. Durham said. “My head, heart, my gut and my passions are all in the same direction.”
Dean Catherine Durham, DNP
MUSC College of Nursing
99 Jonathan Lucas St., Charleston
843-792-8515
nursing.musc.edu
