Kathryn Usedom, MSN, CNM, FNP-C

Care as collaboration: "I’ve worked in women’s health since becoming a midwife and moving into advanced practice care in 2017, with experience in gynecology, sexual and reproductive health, birth care, urogynecology, and menopause care. Much of my work has been rooted in rural North Carolina and Appalachian communities, where I’ve seen firsthand how difficult it can be for women to access the care and support they need. I’m also a PhD candidate focused on rural women’s health equity, and the through line across all of my work is social justice through nursing — finding ways to expand access and address needs that too often go unheard."

Listening is part of the treatment: "I was drawn to midlife and menopause care because so many women around me,  patients, neighbors, and family members, described feeling isolated in their experiences and unsure where to turn. I believe telehealth has enormous potential to broaden access, especially in communities without established healthcare infrastructure. When a patient finishes a visit with me, I want her to feel confident that her concerns were heard and addressed, confident in our relationship, and confident in our plan moving forward."

Always learning, always caring: "Early in my career, I cared for a patient with a very complex situation that required collaboration with specialists and a lot of creative problem-solving. I remember worrying that someone more experienced might have had faster answers. She told me that what mattered most was knowing I genuinely cared and was willing to keep learning alongside her. I still think about that conversation often. It shaped my belief that good care requires both knowledge and humility, and that patients deserve a teammate as much as an expert."