Dr. Hatcher earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing from West Virginia University, a master's degree in public health and PhD in nursing with a concentration on health disparities from the University of Kentucky. Dr. Hatcher worked as a staff nurse in a variety of critical care settings prior to obtaining her PhD. She then worked as assistant and associate professor at the University of Kentucky College of Nursing. There, she served as the inaugural director of diversity and started the DREAM (Disparities Researchers Equalizing Access for Minorities) Center, dedicated to the elimination of disparities via research, training and community engagement. She developed the DREAM Scholars program, dedicated to mentoring emerging scholars interested in health equity science. Dr. Hatcher has a sustained program of research focused on improving the health of underserved minorities with a focus on cancer disparities.