Ellen Langrehr, ’79, clinical associate professor at SoN, says farewell

After 19 1/2 years with the School of Nursing (SoN), Ellen Langrehr, RN, MS, ACNP, CCRN, will be leaving her role as clinical associate professor to accept a position with the UW Medical Foundation as an acute care nurse practitioner in the section of cardiovascular medicine.

Says Langrehr, “My role will be serving as operations manager, with my job-share partner, Kathy Wackerle, MSN, of the inpatient cardiology consult service. We are asked to see adult patients at UWHC who have cardiac issues and who are not on the cardiology service. You can think of us as the ‘traveling heart team.’ Our team consists of Kathy or me, one internal medicine resident, medical and acute care NP students, and one attending cardiologist. Kathy and I triage the consults, organize the work of the service, including rounds with the attending MDs, and see patients, both initially and in follow-up.”

For the past four years, Langrehr has had clinical responsibilities as a part of her full-time SoN position, complemented by her teaching responsibilities and directing the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program. In her new position, which is an 80% appointment, she will be seeing patients in clinic who have urgent cardiac needs in addition to her work on the inpatient consult team.

“I'm looking forward to ‘growing’ myself,” says Langrehr, “having more time to study and learn cardiology so that I have the most to offer to patients.”

In areas of professional service, Langrehr is active with the American College of Cardiology on a state and national level, being the first non-MD to be appointed to the Scientific Sessions Planning Committee. Also, she, along with colleague Muggs Helin, is providing leadership to a group of nurse practitioners and physician assistants whose practices are hospital based.

On a personal level, Langrehr says that she is looking forward to one extra day/week to exercise, hang out with Grace and Jack—her beloved golden retrievers—spend time with family and friends, and restart a yoga practice.

“I'll miss working with the wonderful colleagues at the School of Nursing, and I intend to keep in touch, notes Langrehr.

We at SoN wish you all the best, Ellen!