Kathy Koch grew up in a family that faced many challenges, including financial insecurity.
“My mom got help through church and from our neighbors, so I experienced kindness and the impact of generosity at an early age,” she recalled. “I understand hardship because I’ve lived it, so giving back has always been important to me.”
Kathy never planned to become a nurse, but a teacher at her high school saw potential in both her academic ability and her character.
“She secured a scholarship for me to go to nursing school, and I went, although I was hesitant. But not long into the program, I knew without a doubt that nursing was the right path for me. When I graduated, I wanted to go back and thank my teacher, but unfortunately, she had passed away. I’m so grateful she was looking out for me.”
After nursing school, Kathy began a 46-year career at Advocate Health Care – beginning at Advocate Trinity Hospital, then transferring to Advocate Christ Medical Center. Over the decades, she served in a variety of roles, including house supervisor, manager of clinical operations and manager of Environmental Services. She cared for and supported countless patients, families and teammates – consistently prioritizing their needs above her own. She also saw her own teammates struggling.
“For 27 years, I was an ER nurse. I met so many people who couldn’t afford healthcare or teammates who could barely pay their mortgage,” she shared. “The hospital had a teammate assistance program where employees could go for financial help, so I started donating to that fund and kept giving what I could over the years. I wanted people to know help was available, and I encouraged others to give too.”
In recognition of her impact, Kathy was named Nurse Leader of the Year in 2023. After retiring in 2024, Kathy and her husband Keith decided to extend the impact of their giving through a planned gift.
“Including Advocate Christ in our will ensures we’ll be able to make a difference in our community long after we’re gone,” shared Kathy. “But I also wanted to be around to see how our donations are helping others, so we decided to make an annual gift as well.”
After speaking with Jim Allard, Chief Nursing Officer at Advocate Christ, Kathy and Keith chose to support the Nursing Research, Education and Wellness Fund, particularly the Well-Being Coaching Initiative, which is being launched and funded entirely through philanthropy this year. The initiative is designed to support and empower clinicians in their well-being through a program centered on coaching.
“Nurses and medical professionals tend to take care of themselves the least and are at risk of burnout and fatigue, which leads to turnover. So, we’re partnering with a well-being expert and nurse who will train 10 coaches in a variety of techniques and provide resources so they can teach others how to better care for themselves,” explained Jim. “Over four years, the program will train up to 2,000 teammates.”
“Well-being is particularly important to me,” added Kathy. “Nurses work a stressful 12-hour shift, then afterwards, they potentially have to deal with more stress at home before coming back to the hospital for another round the next day. I love that Advocate Christ is addressing nurses’ mental health and well-being. I think it’s going to make a big difference, and I’m excited to see the results.”
The program would not be possible without philanthropy.
“Supporting a program like this is investing in healthcare leaders and direct care nurses,” said Jim. “Nurses forget to invest in themselves as they continue their careers. They are givers who sometimes neglect themselves. If our nurses are well, that will reflect positively on patient care and the health of our community.”
How you can help
Programs like the Well-Being Coaching Initiative exist because of the support of generous donors like Kathy and Keith. Please consider making a gift today or extending the impact of your donation by making a planned gift for the future.