Alumni story: Kathy Perko `79

Kathy Perko `79, retired nurse practitioner, current board member

Retired pediatric nurse practitioner Kathy Perko earned national recognition during her career for her work in pediatric oncology and palliative care. She is known for her expertise in helping families find tools for counseling, symptom, and pain management, and spiritual care for their children with life-limiting conditions. Her empathy and compassion for the most vulnerable children and families are her life’s mission. Her genuine generosity of spirit demonstrates what it is to be a person for others.

After graduating from Gonzaga Prep, Perko went to nursing school with a desire to become a pediatric nurse. “I liked spending time with families and children.” When she started working at Seattle Children’s Hospital in the mid-`80s, the survival rate for children with cancer was not as high as it is today. It was her first exposure to chronically and terminally ill kids. It was difficult work, “Part of the reason I felt I could take care of these kids, including those who died, was because of my faith.”

A defining moment came for Perko when she came aboard at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland. Two families whose children had died from brain tumors came back to the hospital and said that they could have done more for the families and children dealing with life-threatening illnesses. “We got together with a team of physicians, chaplains, child life specialists, social workers, nurses, and nurse practitioners and asked the question: what does ‘doing more’ look like? The answer came in the inception of the Bridges Pediatric Palliative Care Program in 2001. Bridges is Oregon's largest children’s palliative care program, with one of only three endowed faculty chairs in this field in the U.S.

In her career as a nurse practitioner, two key aspects stand out: mentoring young nurses to teach them essential skills for patient and family care. Perko recognized the importance of guiding nurses to listen deeply to people's stories, understanding that each story is unique. She emphasized the need to support families facing the unimaginable—watching their child die. Through grace, thoughtfulness, and teamwork, she believes they can help families navigate this painful journey with strength and dignity.

Secondly, she said, “The most sacred things we experience in this life are coming into this world and leaving it. So much celebration happens at birth, but we whisper when we when someone dies.” To be able to help someone who is leaving this life with presence and honor is a privilege, Perko said.

Now retired, Perko is living back in Spokane and serves on the Board of Directors. A 2023 Hall of Fame inductee, she is a fixture at alumni events and has stepped up to serve faculty and staff at their holiday gathering, affirming her belief in service to the mission of the school..