January 6, 2025 – We are honored to welcome Kathryn Osteen as the new Chairwoman of The Children’s Heart Foundation’s Board of Directors. A longtime volunteer and Board Member of The Children’s Heart Foundation, Kathryn Osteen, Ph.D., RN, CMSRN, CNE, is a Clinical Associate Professor at Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing and an experienced cardiac intensive care nurse and nurse educator. Dr. Osteen holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing from Baylor University and a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Having worked in the adult cardiac intensive care unit and cardiac research for over 30 years, she is very passionate about the congenital heart population. Kathryn was born with a bicuspid aortic valve. Due to the added stress of pregnancy on her body, surgery was needed to replace the aortic valve and to repair both the pulmonary valve and an aortic aneurysm. Kathryn is very passionate about education, advocacy, and research for both adults and children with CHD. She is excited and honored for the opportunity to reach others through The Children’s Heart Foundation.

On Kathryn taking on the role, our immediate past Board Chairwoman Tamara Thomas says, “Kathryn’s strategic vision, expertise in the field, and unwavering passion for our mission makes her perfectly poised to guide The Children's Heart Foundation into its next chapter. Under her leadership, we will continue to thrive as the leading champion of CHD research.”

Help us give Kathryn a big welcome and congratulations!