In Memoriam: Kathy Rideout, A Visionary Leader in Nursing and Education Who Led with Heart

A visionary dean, compassionate clinician, and steadfast advocate, Kathy Rideout inspired generations to lead with empathy, excellence, and purpose.

Kathy Rideout, EdD, PPCNP-BC, FNAP, a former professor of clinical nursing and pediatrics and dean emerita at the University of Rochester School of Nursing, died February 28 at the age of 67, leaving behind a legacy of leadership, advocacy, and deep commitment to the nursing profession.

Rideout served the University of Rochester community for more than 35 years as a nurse practitioner, educator, scholar and administrator. She is remembered by former colleagues, students, patients, and friends as an extraordinary leader, genuinely supportive, and deeply invested in people. Her influence extended far beyond the University, shaping nursing education and practice throughout the region and nation.

“Our School of Nursing community mourns the loss of a beloved colleague, leader, and friend,” said Lisa Kitko, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN, dean of the UR School of Nursing. “Her impact on our school and the nursing profession is everywhere. While I didn’t have the privilege of knowing her as long as many here did, I have come to know her through the institution she shaped and the lives she touched. She built a culture of excellence, compassion, and inclusion — one that continues to guide us every day. The School of Nursing will honor her legacy by carrying forward the vision she so thoughtfully established.”

Path to Leadership & Key Achievements

A Pittsburgh native, Rideout joined the UR School of Nursing faculty after completing her master’s at the University of Pittsburgh. While teaching, she earned her doctorate from the Warner School of Education in 1995. Through her dedication and leadership, she took on increasing responsibilities, serving as senior associate dean for academic affairs before being appointed interim dean in 2011 and officially installed as the school’s fifth dean in 2012.

In recognition of her collaborative leadership style, she was named a vice president of the University of Rochester Medical Center in 2013. Partnering with then-URMC CEO Mark Taubman, MD, she worked to strengthen the partnership between nursing education and physician training programs and played an influential role in the strategic direction of the Medical Center.

During her tenure as dean, the school experienced a period of substantial growth in all three of its missions: research, education, and nursing practice. Notable accomplishments during this time include establishing the UR Medicine Center for Employee Wellness, a renewed emphasis on research and attracting federal research dollars, and expanding Helen Wood Hall in 2022 with a new facility providing cutting-edge learning and simulation spaces that will benefit nursing students for generations to come.

Champion of Diversity & Inclusion

Creating a welcoming and inclusive community was a hallmark of Rideout's career. As dean, she instituted policies and initiatives that were at the forefront of the University's diversity efforts, and ahead of the curve of other national nursing schools, from playing a lead role in creating the school's Council for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, to ensuring that simulation lab manikins represented a variety of skin tones and genders.

She played a key role in attracting Robert Wood Johnson New Careers in Nursing Scholarship to support students who are underrepresented in nursing. The School was one of a select few schools in the country to receive all seven years of the program’s funding, totaling nearly $1 million in scholarship support.

In recognition of her dedication to fostering diversity, she was honored with the Presidential Diversity Award by the University of Rochester in 2016 and with the Spirit of Rochester Distinguished Nurse Leader Award from the Rochester Black Nurses Association (RBNA) in 2022.

Under her leadership, the School received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award annually, establishing a legacy of inclusive excellence that continues to be recognized today. Her commitment to fostering an inclusive environment went beyond institutional initiatives — it was personal and deeply ingrained in her approach to leadership.

More than 20 years ago, LaRon Nelson, '02N, '04N (MS), '09N (PhD), now the Independence Foundation Professor of Nursing at Yale University, was struggling to find his place at the University as a first-generation college student, Navy veteran, and Black man. Then Rideout stopped him in the hallway of Helen Wood Hall and showed genuine interest in his background and experiences.

<p"I was surprised that she had taken the time to notice me but was more surprised that she knew who I was," Nelson said. "She was aware of my Navy service, she knew that I was a first-generation college student, and she knew that I had high pre-college academic achievement, and she described what those experiences meant for the richness of the student learning environment for all the students. It was the moment that I first felt that my value to the university was beyond how my dark skin 'diversified' the school."

“Kathy helped me to realize that my intellect, drive, and life experiences were valued contributions. That moment changed my life because it set me free to act as a full member of the University community, and I have since thrived.”

A Unique Leadership Approach

What truly set Rideout apart was her leadership style. Approachable and informal, she was on a first-name basis with practically every student in the school. She was a fixture at student events, from informal gatherings to mentoring sessions, and often delivered heartfelt stories at graduation ceremonies about her experiences as a nurse – stories that reinforced an important lesson for nurses about to begin their careers: it’s always about the patient. 

Throughout her career and tenure as dean, Rideout maintained her clinical practice, working part-time as a pediatric ostomy nurse practitioner at Golisano Children's Hospital. This commitment to patient care informed her leadership philosophy and kept her grounded in the realities of nursing practice.

"Kathy had an incredible impact on the smallest of patients," said E. Kate Valcin, DNP, RN, chief nursing executive at the University of Rochester Medical Center and assistant dean of clinical practice at the School of Nursing. "Even as dean, she remained deeply connected to clinical practice, providing consults for NICU patients with complex wounds and ostomies. She championed programs that empowered nurses to advance their education, whether completing their bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees. Her dedication to increasing the diversity of the student body has strengthened the diversity of nursing practice across our medical center."

Rideout’s belief that academic excellence and clinical expertise should go hand-in-hand shaped the culture of the school and the medical center. Her influence extended from the classroom to the bedside, ensuring that future generations of nurses would not only be highly skilled but also deeply compassionate caregivers.

"As GCH's ostomy nurse, Kathy provided compassionate, round-the-clock care to children and families during their most vulnerable moments,” said Jill Halterman, MD, MPH, chief of pediatrics at Golisano Children’s Hospital. “Kathy embodied the true integration of nursing education and practice, showing us all that leadership means never forgetting why we entered this profession in the first place."

Legacy and Lasting Impact

As Rideout wrote in her final message as dean in January 2022: "My time at the UR School of Nursing has been one of the greatest blessings of my life!" That feeling was mutual for the many students, faculty, and staff whose lives she touched throughout her career.

"I sometimes think back on that day in the hallway and how different my life would be if Kathy had not stopped me," reflected Nelson. "I am convinced that she recognized talent and promise in me that I had not yet recognized. Moreover, she made a point to intervene in my life. My story is the story of Kathy Rideout. She has made her mark on the world by touching lives, inspiring future leaders, and creating nurses who will use their positions to change the world one patient at a time."

The impact of Rideout's leadership continues through the Kathy H. Rideout Endowed Diversity Nursing Scholarship, which will support generations of future nurses and honor her lifelong commitment to fostering diversity within the nursing profession.

Donations in Kathy's memory may be made to the Kathy H. Rideout Endowed Diversity Nursing Scholarship (A13716) at the University of Rochester, Box 270032, Rochester, NY 14627 or at giving.rochester.edu.

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As we celebrate her life and legacy, we invite you to share memories, messages, and words of gratitude to honor her lasting impact on our community and the nursing profession.

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