September 6, 2022

Dr. Cynthia Hambach, an assistant clinical professor in the RN-BSN completion program at the College of Nursing and Health Professions, passed away on July 29, 2022, surrounded by her family at home in Lansdale, PA. Hambach was an educator, friend and mentor to the CNHP community. She had previously taught courses in the undergraduate nursing program and had worked throughout her career as a staff nurse, staff educator and clinical nurse specialist.

“Cindy was an exceptional instructor who genuinely cared about her students. A consistent and kind mentor, she was admired by the students who learned in her classrooms,” shared Kymberlee Montgomery, DNP, clinical professor of nursing, vice dean of Nursing and Student Affairs and chief Academic Nursing officer. “She dedicated endless hours to helping students find the right fit and thrive in their careers. She was a thoughtful colleague and friend to many people in the CNHP community. She was a true gift to the nursing profession and to Drexel University!”

Hambach was a certified critical care nurse and a member of the Southeastern PA Chapter of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. She received her PhD in Nursing from Villanova University in 2021, an MSN from Widener University, a BSN from Pennsylvania State University, and an RN from the Frankford Hospital School of Nursing.

“Cindy was such an amazing educator; she put students front and center in her teachings,” related Genevieve Porrecca, MSN, director for the Center for Interprofessional Clinical Simulation & Practice (CICSP) and assistant clinical professor. “Cindy taught with kindness and compassion. I had the privilege to work closely with her during her doctoral project. Cindy developed a simulation to help students develop clinical judgement skills. Her legacy will live on with the students whose lives she touched,” Porrecca added.

Hambach had research interests in simulation and debriefing; her dissertation “Using standardized patients in simulated learning experiences to develop clinical judgment and clinical competence of sophomore level baccalaureate nursing students in a foundations of nursing practice course” was published in 2020 and Clinical judgment: A concept analysis in the Journal of Nursing Doctoral Students Scholarship in 2019, among other scholarly articles.

“Cindy was so proud to be a member of the Drexel community. She served as an adjunct faculty, teaching undergraduate nursing students on various hospital units for a number of years before becoming full time faculty. She was always so patient with her students, whether in lab, in clinical, or in the classroom,” described Mary Ann Zimmer, MSN, assistant clinical professor of undergraduate nursing. “Her mission was to assist them in becoming exceptional nurses. She was well respected and well-liked by her students. She also enjoyed mentoring new faculty. She would graciously share her knowledge and resources to make the transition into academia easier for those new to the role. She was a wonderful colleague. She was willing to help out if you needed someone to fill in for teaching a class or for assisting with a simulation. Finally, Cindy was a great friend. She was there to listen if you needed to talk or to encourage you if you were feeling down. She made the effort to keep connected by setting up times to get together in person or via zoom.”

In lieu of flowers, the Hambach family welcomes donations to be made to support the Cindy Hambach Memorial Nursing Fund, which will be established at Drexel University.

“She will be greatly missed but she has made a lasting impression on so many people in her life–friends, colleagues, students and patients. In the words of Ray Bradbury: 'It doesn't matter what you do, so long as you change something from the way it was before you touched it into something that's like you after you take your hands away'. She made this world a better place by being who she was and making positive changes in the lives of those around her,” concluded Zimmer.