OBU welcomes Walsh and Payton to the School of Nursing
Oklahoma Baptist University is pleased to welcome two new faculty members this fall in the School of Nursing.
Sarah “Katy” Walsh and Claressa Payton are joining the School of Nursing as assistant professors of nursing. Both will teach foundational nursing courses while preparing students for careers rooted in compassionate, Christ-centered patient care.
Sarah “Katy” Walsh
Walsh is an advanced practice registered nurse specializing in adult-gerontology and is accredited through the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Central Arkansas in 2005 and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in 2017.
Most of Walsh’s career as an adult nurse practitioner has focused on cardiology. In addition to her work in cardiovascular care, she has developed an interest in regenerative medicine, functional medicine and holistic healthcare with an emphasis on preventive care. She also completed specialized training in platelet-rich plasma and stem cell therapy for joints and soft tissue through Injection University in Denver.
Walsh will teach Foundations of Nursing and Adult I while helping students develop a strong clinical foundation grounded in Christian principles.
She views nursing as both an autonomous and collaborative profession dedicated to the holistic care of individuals, families and communities. Walsh believes effective nursing education begins with teaching truth, maintaining a passion for learning and cultivating humility while recognizing that each person is created by God to glorify Him.
Claressa Payton
Payton joined the OBU faculty this fall as an assistant professor of nursing. She will teach Foundations of Nursing and Adult II.
Her clinical experience includes orthopedics, long-term care, medical-surgical nursing, pediatrics, hospice, oncology and the cardiac catheterization laboratory.
Payton earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in 2016 after completing the Licensed Vocational Nurse Program at Victoria College in Texas in 2007. She is completing a Master of Science in Nursing Education at Northeastern State University, where her capstone focuses on the ethical implementation of artificial intelligence in nursing curriculum.
While serving at Stillwater Medical Center, Payton earned certifications as a Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse, in chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and in adult moderate sedation. She also served as a preceptor for transition-to-practice nurses and as a clinical adjunct instructor for licensed practical nursing students at Meridian Technology Center.
An active member of the American Nurses Association, the Emergency Nurses Association and Nurses Christian Fellowship, Payton views nursing as a calling and teaching as an opportunity to make a lasting impact on students while reflecting Christ through her work.
For more information about the OBU School of Nursing, visit okbu.edu/nursing/.