Military Spouse & Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
I come from a multigenerational military family. Some of my earliest memories are from the year we spent living with my grandparents while my Dad was in Vietnam. He continued to serve in the National Guard throughout my childhood and young adulthood. I learned that service can be invisible and families need support. These truths were reinforced when I married a submariner after I had established my career in nursing. He served another 23 years, where we moved 11 times, had 2 children, and, between us, got 3 more graduate degrees. We have now transitioned to fully civilian lives and are supporting both of our children, one of whom is serving on active duty. All of these experiences are why I am committed to providing support and care for military families – it is just what we do. We take care of our own.
Like everyone who loves and supports someone who serves, I find what needs to be done and make it happen with our network. We are using this space to expand our network to help through challenges and transitions.
Dr. Catherine Ling is a nurse scientist, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), and certified nurse educator focusing on improving access to quality primary care. She works to improve culturally competent care for military families and is actively involved in community-focused interventions to improve care at a local and global level.
She is also creating innovative, engaging strategies to prepare students for nurse practitioner roles and is actively engaged with policy advocacy to improve nursing care and practice.
She received her BSN from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, her MN from Emory University, and her PhD from the Medical University of South Carolina.
Dr. Ling is a Fellow in the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the American Academy of Nursing. She is currently an Associate Professor and inaugural CNO of Service within the COMPASS Center at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing.
