Meet the First Lady Kathryn Cochran Cole
MUSC first lady, Kathy Cole, is a devoted advocate for MUSC who builds lasting relationships within the MUSC family as well as with partners and communities across the state and nation.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Kathy grew up in a military family and traveled the world during her father’s Air Force career. She attended Texas Christian University (TCU) and graduated in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN). She returned to her roots to pursue her passion for pediatrics as a pediatric oncology nurse at Egleston Children’s Hospital at Emory University in Atlanta. This work was followed by service in a pediatrician’s office in Bethesda, Maryland, before relocating to Charleston with her husband Dave (MUSC President David J. Cole, M.D., FACS) and focusing on her growing family. Today, although not an active nurse, she lives out her heart's calling through volunteer work at the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital and Pearl Tourville Women’s Pavilion, working with MUSC students and by living a life of service within the community
Kathy and Dave reside in Mount Pleasant with their two dogs: Cairn Terriers, Ella and Sassy. They prioritize spending time with family: Paige (husband, Chase and son, Henry); Andy (wife, Alex, daughter, Emily, and son, Dal); and Bryan (wide, Cydney, and son, Robby).
Additional Information about Kathy Cole
At the heart of Kathy’s volunteerism at MUSC is her passion for students and children’s health. She makes it a priority to interact with and support students within all six MUSC colleges, host student groups at her home and participate in various student celebrations, ceremonies and events. Combining two of her passions, students and therapy animals, Kathy enjoys participating in "Wired Wednesdays," which arranges for therapy dogs to interact with MUSC’s students in the library during stressful exam times.
Kathy is also an active member of the MUSC Women’s Club, which supports MUSC through volunteerism and by awarding scholarships to selected students from the university’s six colleges.
And when accounting for her service outside of MUSC, Kathy’s reached role model status. From serving numerous years as a troop leader for the Girl Scouts and volunteering in the offices of elementary, middle and high schools, to serving her faith-based community as a Sunday school teacher, deacon and elder, Kathy is known for her servant-leader heart and giving back to others.
Fun Facts about Kathy
What is something that not many people know about you?
When I was in ROTC in college, I flew in an F-105 Thunderchief while they were doing practice bombing missions on ranges in Oklahoma.
What do you feel is your most important role at MUSC?
I’m focused on deepening and building relationships with employees and students because a strong MUSC family is crucial to delivering excellence across the MUSC mission. I believe my most important role is making people feel like they belong — that they are in the right place, at the right time, and with the right people, especially when it’s really difficult. This role also allows me to raise awareness and philanthropic support for the health and wellness of children and our students, which are critical issues MUSC is uniquely positioned to address.
What are your hobbies?
I love to garden, cross stitch, and read. I get all my books from my daughter, Paige, who is an avid reader and always finds the best ones. My favorite genre is historical fiction. Some of my favorite books include All the Light We Cannot See, The Nightingale, and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I’ve also loved series such as Outlander, Game of Thrones, The Hunger Games, and Harry Potter.
What do you see next for MUSC?
I would love to see MUSC continue to elevate its culture of innovation, compassion, and respect, becoming the regional go-to institution where patients and families receive the best possible care. I think people across the state are beginning to understand what a gem this organization is, and I hope to see the MUSC family receive the national recognition it deserves.
What is your favorite quote or motto?
My kids will tell you my favorite motto is, “First impressions are everything!” I firmly believe this — you can never take away a first impression.
One of my favorite quotes comes from a poem by Erin Hansen:
There is freedom waiting for you,
On the breezes of the sky,
And you ask, “What if I fall?”
Oh, but my darling,
What if you fly?
Which of your passions aligns well with MUSC?
I love making people feel special and important. In a large organization, it’s essential that everyone feels like they belong. That sense of belonging makes us feel like a family, and I am very much a family person. I also love being around our students — they are the future leaders, and their excitement and passion are contagious. I am a nurse at heart and have a deep love for children, which makes volunteering at the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital and Pearl Tourville Women’s Pavilion especially meaningful to me.
What is your best childhood memory?
I have two favorite memories from living in Europe during grade school. One was visiting London and watching the changing of the guard from our hotel window. The other was living in a small German farming town near an Air Force base, where we would sled in the winter from our street nearly to the edge of the forest. Those three years remain some of the best times of my life.
What’s the president really like?
He is not only the smartest person I know, but also the most compassionate, sincere, loyal, humble, loving, ethical, and funniest person I’ve ever met. His heart for medicine and caring for others is extraordinary. His love and loyalty to MUSC are incredible, and he is also an amazing husband, father, and grandfather. He brings teamwork into everything he does, both at MUSC and at home.
We hear you have a nickname — “The Commander.” Where did that come from?
That really became a thing during my five years as the Wando Lacrosse team mom. Managing fundraising of nearly $40,000 a year, keeping teenage boys fed and supported, and building a sustainable program required a strong sense of organization and leadership. While it was a lot of work, I look back on that time fondly as helping to build something truly special.
What advice do you always find yourself giving?
Trust that God will show you the path, opening the doors that are right for you and closing the ones that are not.
What philanthropic project are you working on for MUSC that has special meaning to you?
In memory of my father, Col. Henry J. “Jack” Cochran, my family and I created the Jack Cochran Medical Scholarship Fund. The fund provides four years of financial support to a student in the College of Medicine. Supporting our deserving students is deeply meaningful to me, and it means so much to know others care about helping the fund grow.