Bethany Rolfe Witham

Biography

Education: BSN, Seattle Pacific University; MSN, Seattle Pacific University, 2006; DNP, University of Washington, 2011. At SPU since 2011. Dr. Bethany Rolfe Witham began her career in nursing as a certified nursing assistant at the age of 16. After graduating from Seattle Pacific University with a bachelor of science degree in nursing, she began working in a community health clinic in north Seattle. This work sparked her passion for community health and serving the underserved. Dr. Rolfe Witham returned to Seattle Pacific University to obtain a master of science degree in nursing and complete the Family Nurse Practitioner Program. She then moved to Costa Rica, where she volunteered in a clinic in one of the poorest barrios in San Jose. After a year, she returned to Seattle and joined Sea Mar Community Health Centers, where she continues to work in both primary and urgent care. In 2011, Dr. Rolfe Witham received her doctor of nursing practice in Community Health Systems from the University of Washington, specializing in Cross Cultural and Global Health. In addition, she obtained a Nurse Educator Graduate Certificate. Dr. Rolfe Witham’s teaching, research, and practice interests include access to quality health care for the Latino population in the Puget Sound area, providing culturally competent care to diverse populations, social determinants of health, and health disparities. Dr. Rolfe Witham teaches courses in the Master’s and Nurse Practitioner programs. She also teaches the transcultural nursing classes in the Undergraduate program, including a four-week community health nursing study abroad in Guatemala.

Research Interest

Nursing, Community Health Nursing, family Health