Kathy Perko MS, PPCNP-BC, CHPPN®, CPON, CPLC, FPCN®, FAPHON

Kathy has been a pediatric nurse for 40 years, a PNP for 30 years. She started her career in pediatric oncology, specifically caring for children with brain tumors which she continued through 2015. She founded the Bridges Pediatric Palliative Care Program at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in 2003 and was the director until her retirement in November 2020. Kathy helped develop the Pediatric Track of the UW Palliative Care Certificate Program and directed the track until 2024. She provides education and consultation in pediatric palliative care through PANDA Consultants, PLLC.

She is nationally certified as a pediatric nurse practitioner, pediatric oncology nurse, perinatal loss clinician and pediatric palliative care and hospice nurse. She is recognized as a Fellow in Palliative and Hospice Care and in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. She is national faculty for ELNEC, EPEC, and Vital Talk. Kathy has a certificate in pediatric bioethics from Children's Mercy in Kansas City and in Palliative Care from the University of Washington.