Dr. Kathy Harper
Dr. Kathy Harper, DO, has been teaching medical students for nearly 20 years. A practicing noninvasive cardiologist and an osteopath, Harper brings a slightly different approach to her practice and teaching of medicine.
"I try to instill a philosophy of systems approach in training students," says Harper. "It's an investigative approach, taking in all the different complicated aspects of the patient to find the root cause of a problem. For instance, it's not just that someone may have heart palpitations, but it may be caused by other factors, such as other stresses in the body or psychosocial life."
Harper finds the challenge of teaching medical students exciting. "Working with a medical student is like being an artist looking at a blank canvas. You have the opportunity to mold a student in their thought process and in the joy of medicine. You also have a unique opportunity to lay the groundwork and foundation in how people view patients and the profession for the rest of their career."
Harper specializes in women's health, heart failure and prevention. She directs the Noninvasive Cardiology, Cardiac Rehab, the Congestive Heart Failure Clinic, and Women at Heart at St. Vincent's Medical Center, the School of Medicine's principal clinical partner. She attended the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, Maine and completed her internal medicine residency at St. Vincent's Medical Center.
Beginning her career in primary care, Harper believes strongly that it's a very important piece in the medical profession. "I think primary care is fundamental to health and well-being because it is preventative medicine. Primary care is where all the conversation and longstanding relationships of health begin with individuals and families."
"It's an exciting yet challenging time to be entering medicine. The people that will continue to do well are those that can constantly find excitement and interest in what they do on a daily basis."
More School of Medicine Spotlights
Faculty Spotlight
Stephen K. Wikel spent the better part of 40 years teaching medical and graduate students, performing administrative duties and serving as a laboratory researcher before taking over as senior associate dean for scholarship and chair of the Department of Medical Sciences at Quinnipiac's Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine.
Our Facilities
The medical school will be housed in a state-of-the-art facility with simulation labs, examination and patient assessment rooms, high-tech classrooms, an operating room and electronic resources.
Our Vision
A learning community where the faculty's primary mission is to teach, where diversity and inclusivity are paramount and where cultural competence and social engagement are inherent are all part of our vision.
Holistic Care
Future Quinnipiac medical students will learn about how environmental and social factors can play a role in healing.