Mary Koehn

is honored with a Large Paver from Wichita State University School of Nursing

Mary Koehn, Associate Professor of Nursing, began her career at Wichita State University in 1990 as a lecturer in the School of Nursing in the College of Health Professions. She earned a Diploma in Nursing from Bethel Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing, BSN and MSN degrees from WSU, and a PhD from the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Koehn has served as Faculty, Coordinator of Nursing Clinical Education, Chair of the School of Nursing, and Associate Dean of the College of Health Professions. She was a significant driver of the college’s innovation in interprofessional education, which exemplifies the college’s vision of leading change in healthcare education.

Prior to coming to Wichita State, Dr. Koehn began her professional career as a staff nurse, primarily in maternal child health, and became nationally certified as a Lamaze Childbirth Educator. For more than 20 years, she taught labor and birthing classes to many of the women and families in the Wichita area. Over the years, her areas of expertise have expanded into interprofessional education, simulation, and educating nurses and other health professionals in the art of teaching. Influenced by principles of adaptive leadership, the themes of story, reflection, simulation (practice), technology, and collaboration emerge throughout her teaching. Following her passion for simulation, she became a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator and has published and has presented nationally and internationally on facilitating interprofessional simulation as the learning modality for all healthcare learners. Dr. Koehn relishes opportunities to read, connect with colleagues, and learn from others’ experiences, where she refuels her energy and passion for teaching.

Finally, she balances her passion for interprofessional healthcare education, simulation, and leadership with an equally active family life that includes her husband, two married children, and six grandchildren.