Story by Ryan Gauthier, rjgauthier@health.missouri.edu

After nearly four decades of service at the University of Missouri, Kathy Myers has announced plans to retire as chair of the Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences (CDS) in June.

Myers has been a pivotal figure in shaping the department and advancing health care education at Mizzou. She leaves behind a legacy of leadership and innovation — in addition to an unwavering commitment to students.

Myers began her career at Mizzou in 1987 as a part-time faculty member with the Respiratory Therapy program. Initially hired to restructure the program’s lab curriculum, she quickly developed a reputation for her dedication to teaching and program improvement.

Over the years, she transitioned into full-time roles and earned a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from Mizzou. She took over as interim chair of CDS in 2016 and became its permanent leader in 2017, taking on the challenge of helming a multidisciplinary department during a time of significant change in health care and higher education.

Myers recruited new directors for each of the department’s five programs during her tenure, and she appreciates their commitment to the time-consuming work of interprofessional collaboration.

“I wanted to establish a culture of collaboration where we learn from one another and grow together,” she said. “Seeing so much change within the department has provided an opportunity to constantly recalibrate and refocus, always pointing toward that goal of collaboration and workforce development.”

Transformative leadership

College of Health Sciences Dean Kristofer Hagglund has worked closely with Myers throughout her tenure. He described her as a “transformative chairperson.”

“Kathy and her team have successfully guided CDS through many challenges and have seized many opportunities,” Hagglund said. “The department is strong and stable, ready to continue educating students and serving communities.”

During Myers’ time as chair, the department increased the use of clinical simulation resources to ground learning in authentic clinical and diagnostic environments, even in the department’s medical terminology course that enrolls more than 1,000 students annually. Some of her proudest accomplishments include:

• Modernized teaching labs

Myers helped secure funding to equip the department’s five teaching labs with modern, functional equipment. Through a series of successful funding proposals, she and her colleagues transformed outdated facilities into essential lab spaces that support student success.

These enhancements allowed for advanced teaching techniques, like simulation-based learning, which significantly improved student engagement, retention and preparedness for clinical practice.

“The improvements have been transformational for the student learning experience,” she said.

• COVID-19 pandemic response

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Myers led the department in adapting clinical programs to ensure students continued receiving high-quality education despite restrictions on in-person clinical experiences.

“For five different clinical programs to all of a sudden not be able to go to clinics but still need to prepare our students to be successful — that was an incredible challenge,” she said. “It took a lot of time, a lot of effort, a lot of creativity and a lot of stress on the leadership to figure things out.”

Respiratory therapy faculty, including Myers, also volunteered at local hospitals during a critical time, balancing teaching responsibilities with direct patient care.

• Development of the master’s program

Myers was integral in creating the interdisciplinary Master of Health Science in Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences program.

Launched during the pandemic, the program exemplifies Myers’ collaborative approach. She worked closely with faculty to design a curriculum that addresses workforce demand for leaders in Clinical Laboratory Science, Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound, Nuclear Medicine, Radiography, and Respiratory Therapy.

“I’m really proud that we’ve maintained rigor and made these courses more relevant in terms of the pedagogy,” she said.

Prepared for the future

As Myers prepares for retirement, she looks forward to making space for personal growth and reflection.

“I think I just want to breathe for a little while,” she said.

An avid hiker, she plans to spend more time exploring nature and finding new ways to give back to her community. She expressed optimism about the future of CDS at Mizzou, noting she believes the department will continue to adapt and grow in the coming years.

She hopes her efforts to create a collaborative and collegial culture have positioned CDS for continued success.

“We’re capable of so much more when we work together,” Myers said. “That’s something I hope will continue to define this department.”

The College of Health Sciences thanks Myers for her exceptional service and leadership. A search for the next department chair is underway.