Penn Nursing Appoints Inaugural Executive Director of the Leonard A. Lauder Community Care Nurse Practitioner Program

Newswise — PHILADELPHIA (July 12, 2022) - Kimberly Strauch, PhD, MSN, ANP-BC, has been appointed the inaugural Executive Director of Leonard A. Lauder Community Care Nurse Practitioner Program (LLCCNPP) at Penn Nursing. This program was announced in February 2022 as a first-of-its-kind, tuition-free program dedicated to building a nurse practitioner workforce committed to working in and with underserved communities, both rural and urban. LLCCNPP was borne of a $125 million gift—the largest ever to an American nursing school—by Penn alumnus Leonard A. Lauder, Chairman Emeritus of The Estee Lauder Companies.

The first cohort of Lauder Fellows will begin their studies this fall, at a moment when the COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the nation’s acute shortage of primary care providers, and persisting inequities in access to quality health care. Fellows will enroll full-time in a two-year, rigorous Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program at Penn Nursing, and complete at least 50% of their clinical education at community partner sites and/or comparable sites that provide direct patient care. Every Fellow will be expected to commit to practice or service in an underserved community for two years after graduation. All participants in the program will enter the workforce free of graduate school debt, receiving student aid to cover their tuition and fees and thereby eliminating any potential financial barriers for nurses and others who wish to enroll.

As Executive Director, Strauch will be responsible for community partner development and coordination, including preceptors; the development of targeted recruitment plans; the coordination of the fellowship’s evaluation and tracking; and she will serve as a liaison for student and alumni fellows. In addition, she will work closely with Sue Renz, PhD, DNP, Director of the Primary Care Program, to ensure cohesiveness and coordination of students, clinical experiences, and curriculum.

“We always knew the Leonard A. Lauder Community Care Nurse Practitioner Program would need a dynamic practitioner and leader at the helm, and I am delighted to have Dr. Strauch filling that role,” said Penn Nursing Dean Antonia M. Villarruel. “Her commitment and expertise in working in underserved communities will be critical in helping Penn Nursing develop the next generation of nurse leaders who are equally committed.” 

“I am thrilled that Dr. Strauch will bring her considerable expertise and experience into this critical leadership role,” said Leonard A. Lauder. “When the first cohort begins their studies this fall, they will have an excellent model of dedication and leadership paving the way for Penn’s groundbreaking program. Dr. Strauch has been on the front lines in communities that need high-quality primary care more than ever, and I know that her commitment will inspire these future nurse practitioners to learn the skills and do the hard work it takes to meet that need, and serve Americans across the country.”

Strauch has been a primary care nurse practitioner for over 10 years with specific expertise in the care of underserved and vulnerable populations. She was among the first nurse practitioners hired by Project HOME's Stephen Klein Wellness Center, where she played a vital role in growing the practice into a fully integrated medical home, provided community outreach services that included street medicine, precepting nurse practitioner students, and networking with community practice partners to improve the care of patients.

Strauch is no stranger to Penn Nursing. She previously served as the Nursing Curriculum Coordinator for the School’s Vin Group-Penn Alliance Project and as project manager of the School’s Health Resource and Services Administration (HRSA) grant – ANEW – focused on providing enhanced didactic content and clinical training to advanced practice registered nurses interested in caring for underserved populations post-graduation.

Before taking on this appointment Strauch was working in a Penn Nursing and Penn Dental Medicine partnership focused on developing a framework for interdisciplinary education and training between nursing and dentistry. As part of her role in the Care Center for Persons with Disabilities within Penn Dental Medicine, Dr. Strauch educated predoctoral students on the management of medically complex patients of all physical and cognitive abilities, which includes a deeper understanding of the social determinants of health.

Strauch received her BSN in Nursing from Michigan State University, her MSN as a Nurse Practitioner in Adult Gerontological Care from Penn Nursing, and her PhD in Nursing Informatics from the University of Arizona.

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About the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing

The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing is one of the world’s leading schools of nursing. For the seventh year in a row, it is ranked the #1 nursing school in the world by QS University. In a first for any undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program in the country, our BSN program is ranked # 1 in the 2022 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings. Penn Nursing is also consistently ranked highly in the U.S. News & World Report annual list of best graduate schools and is ranked as one of the top schools of nursing in funding from the National Institutes of Health. Penn Nursing prepares nurse scientists and nurse leaders to meet the health needs of a global society through innovation in research, education, and practice. Follow Penn Nursing on: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, & Instagram.