Spring Break
The Daily OrangeHome remedy: Nurse practitioner Kathleen MacLachlan takes care of SU students and family
By Mary Georger
Posted: 12/4/08, 11:01 PM EST Section: Feature
Kathleen MacLachlan retreats to her broken-in office chair after a long day of work. She is still wearing her white medical coat that is familiar to 20 or so patients each day.
Behind her are more than 100 colorful photos on a cluttered wall of lifetime memorabilia where smiling SU students, Otto the Orange, family portraits, diploma certificates and Christmas cards are displayed. MacLachlan is determined to completely fill it by the time she retires (not any time soon, she says).
"There's nothing educational about that," MacLachlan, a nurse practitioner, said pointing to a poster of cats on the ceiling above the medical exam table.
"I have all these different props I use to put people at ease," Kathy says, pointing to a basket of toys her patients fiddle with.
The 63-year-old Syracuse native doesn't think about retiring from her 25 years at the health center, a place where 100 to 150 students visit each day, according to James Jacobs, director of Health Services.
MacLachlan said she doesn't have much time. Her schedule is jammed with her women's health position, her position on the board of directors for the National College Health Association (she just finished her term as president), her board member position with the state's affiliation, her dedication to her family and many other responsibilities.
"Kathy brings work home seven days a week," said Gary, her husband of 40 years.
The two were sixth-grade classmates (they were both captains of the girl and boy safety patrols). The school districts split shortly after, and the two reunited at a 1968 Simon and Garfunkel concert.
"It was love at second sight," Gary said.
Gary knows how much her job and involvement in associations like the National Professional College Health Association (she received the highest honor of The Fellows Award last year) mean to her. The couple does their talking while Gary drives MacLachlan home from work or at dinnertime.
Behind her are more than 100 colorful photos on a cluttered wall of lifetime memorabilia where smiling SU students, Otto the Orange, family portraits, diploma certificates and Christmas cards are displayed. MacLachlan is determined to completely fill it by the time she retires (not any time soon, she says).
"There's nothing educational about that," MacLachlan, a nurse practitioner, said pointing to a poster of cats on the ceiling above the medical exam table.
"I have all these different props I use to put people at ease," Kathy says, pointing to a basket of toys her patients fiddle with.
The 63-year-old Syracuse native doesn't think about retiring from her 25 years at the health center, a place where 100 to 150 students visit each day, according to James Jacobs, director of Health Services.
MacLachlan said she doesn't have much time. Her schedule is jammed with her women's health position, her position on the board of directors for the National College Health Association (she just finished her term as president), her board member position with the state's affiliation, her dedication to her family and many other responsibilities.
"Kathy brings work home seven days a week," said Gary, her husband of 40 years.
The two were sixth-grade classmates (they were both captains of the girl and boy safety patrols). The school districts split shortly after, and the two reunited at a 1968 Simon and Garfunkel concert.
"It was love at second sight," Gary said.
Gary knows how much her job and involvement in associations like the National Professional College Health Association (she received the highest honor of The Fellows Award last year) mean to her. The couple does their talking while Gary drives MacLachlan home from work or at dinnertime.
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