Katie Wahler, MSN, ARNP

she/her, Assistant Professor

About

Katie started her career in healthcare over 20 years ago, working as a dietary aide and certified nursing assistant during high school and college in the Midwest. She received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Creighton University and was selected for a residency at Huntsman Cancer Hospital at the University of Utah. After working in many roles in patient care and leadership, she returned for a Master of Science in Nursing through Clarkson College to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. As a nurse practitioner, she has provided primary care to rural communities in Virginia and California, including leading a community health center through the first 2.5 years of COVID as the Medical Director. She and her husband moved to Bellingham in 2022, and she worked as a clinical educator at a large health system in Puget Sound. In addition to teaching, she maintains a clinical practice providing treatment to patients with substance use disorders at a local non-profit clinic. 

She teaches in the RN to BSN program and the Leadership/Administration track of the MSN program. Her areas of scholarship include policy/systems and the upstream factors that impact health and healthcare delivery, nurse-led care solutions, and care for marginalized populations, including persons with substance use disorder.

Education

  • 2025 (anticipated), Doctor of Nursing Practice - Health Policy, University of Nevada - Reno
  • 2016, Master of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner, Clarkson College
  • 2009, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Creighton University

Clinical Background

  • Substance Use Disorder Outpatient Treatment
  • Primary Care/Internal Medicine/Hospital Medicine/Family Medicine/Free Clinic 
  • Oncology Nursing - Medical Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplant, Breast Care, Nurse Navigation
  • Leadership/Administration - Charge Nurse, Clinic Nurse Coordinator, Medical Director
  • Education - Adjunct Faculty, Clinical Educator, Population Health

Professional Memberships and Community Service 

  • Mount Baker Nurse Practitioner Association - Legislative Liason
  • ARNPs United of Washington State - Legislative Committee Member
  • American Association of Nurse Practitioners
  • Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society