Kathy Bell

Kathy Bell's education includes a diploma in Nursing from Hillcrest Medical Center, in 1974, a BLS from the University of Oklahoma, in 1996, and an MS in Forensic Science in 2002, from the University of Central Oklahoma. She worked for many years with a focus on critical care nursing and nursing administration.

Bell joined the Tulsa Police Department in 1994 and retired in 2022. She provided the day-to-day operations management of the forensic nurse examiner programs. She was responsible for the development of replication strategies and training programs that will facilitate other communities in providing forensic nurse examiner services. As a forensic nurse in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Bell performed examinations for sexual assault, drug-endangered children, domestic violence, and elder abuse.

She is certified as an Advanced Forensic Nurse (AFN-C), Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner of Adults and Adolescents and Pediatrics (SANE-A and SANE-P). She is a member of the American Nurses Association and Oklahoma Nurses Association. She is a founding member of the Academy on Violence and Abuse and served as a Board member. She now serves as an Advisory Board member.  She is a member and past president of the International Association of Forensic Nurses. She has participated in many task forces, advisory committees, and forums regarding sexual assault, violence, and forensic nursing issues.