About

Kathleen Fisher, PhD, CRNP, is a tenured nursing professor, a skilled clinician and educator. She has over 35 years of clinical nursing experience, most of those working with underserved populations as a certified registered nurse practitioner (CRNP) specializing in the family. Her commitment as a nurse is to provide compassionate, holistic, person-centered care to all people, inclusive of at-risk populations, like people with memory loss, dementia and people experiencing an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD). Fisher’s research centers on the needs of these underserved and at risk populations, and provides an opportunity to explore and examine issues of concern to people who are marginalized by society or experience stigma because of their illness or disability.
Fisher has been a principal investigator (PI) or co-investigator on several funded studies including: federal, state and foundation grants. Working within a model advancing research, education and clinical practice, she utilizes a transformative emancipatory paradigm that employs participatory action research strategies. This means that Fisher leads transdisciplinary groups in the practice of team science, with the mission of empowering others (e.g. individuals, families, clients) toward change. A goal of her research is to support at-risk groups, by respecting and understanding difference, while enabling them to realize their full potential in health situations. Fisher’s transformative approach supports the development of strong academic-clinical and research partnerships with community partners to create relevant research, clinical experiences and internship opportunities for interprofessional students at Drexel University.
Fisher is the author or coauthor of more than 50 publications, a position paper for the American Nurses Association Ethics Advisory Board, coeditor of a 2016 book, and author or coauthor of over 60 published conference abstracts and proceedings at national and international research conferences. Her scholarship has focused on health outcomes, health promotion, quality of life and advocacy with at-risk, diverse populations.

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Organizational Affiliations

Professor, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University

[Retired Faculty], Drexel University

Education

Chestnut Hill Hospital (United States, Philadelphia)
RN
Nursing
BS, College of New Jersey (United States, Ewing) - TCNJ
Nursing
MS, University of Pennsylvania (United States, Philadelphia)
Pennsylvania State University (United States, State College) - PSU
PhD