The College of Nursing and Health Innovation honors Dr. Kathryn Daniel

Friday, Apr 19, 2024 Connect

The College of Nursing and Health Innovation honors the life and work of Dr. Kathryn Daniel, beloved colleague and friend, who passed away on April 8, 2024. 

A dedicated nurse and scholar, Dr. Daniel joined CONHI in 2007 and worked in gerontological nursing for more than 35 years. During her career as a nurse practitioner, she practiced in geriatric primary care, long-term care, home-based primary care, and assisted living facilities. Before becoming a nurse practitioner, she practiced as a critical care nurse and administrative supervisor for one of the largest hospitals in the DFW area.

A native of North Texas, Daniel earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Baylor University and went on to receive a Master of Science from Texas Woman’s University and a PhD in Nursing from UTA. Her body of research in gerontology focused on patient safety for older adults, cardiac rehabilitation, palliative care, and an analysis of the present and future needs for nurses. Recognizing the need for more skilled professionals to care for older adults, the Deerbrook Charitable Trust gave UTA a transformational gift that helped Daniel launch a new graduate-level gerontology health care certificate program for health care professionals who work with adults 65 and older.

While her heart belonged to nursing, her reach and influence extended far beyond CONHI. Daniel was well known throughout the community and at UTA and for her professional collaboration with community partners and departments around campus. Since 2015, she led UTA’s SmartCare program, a collaborative project between CONHI and the College of Engineering that develops technology to improve the independence, quality of life and health of the elderly and those with disabilities.

Her devotion to enhancing the quality of health and nursing led to her induction to the American Academy of Nursing’s 2019 Class of Fellows and her selection as Distinguished Educator in Gerontological Nursing, National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence. In 2020, Daniel was recognized by the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association for Excellence in Research. In 2022, she was inducted into the Dallas-Fort Worth Great 100 Nurses.

In addition to her countless accolades and recognitions, Daniel will be remembered as a dedicated researcher and tireless advocate for nursing education. In a 2022 article profiling her work, Daniel said, “Nursing is a wonderful career for anyone to consider. There are so many opportunities for nurses to be a part of really making a significant difference in the lives of people in our communities. I’ve really been blessed to be able to take advantage of those open doors when they appeared in my path.”

Daniel was a remarkable nurse who will be remembered by her students, colleagues, and patients as someone who always went out of her way to help others and gave generously her time, dedication, and support.