For 199 graduates of the School of Nursing and Health Studies, December 13 was a night of inspiring words and high hopes for the future of health care. SONHS Dean and Professor Cindy Munro welcomed a full auditorium of graduates and guests to the School’s Fall 2023 Awards and Pinning Ceremony at the Shalala Student Center.
“You’re an exceptional class whose strong sense of purpose and passion will transform healthcare,” she said of graduates representing the School’s PhD in Nursing Science, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Post-Graduate Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Certificate, Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Health Science, and Bachelor of Science in Public Health programs.
She also spoke of the School’s collective achievements. “This year, we marked our 75th anniversary and attained new heights in many areas, including educational excellence in all programs with reaccreditation of the Bachelor of Science in Public Health program and a record-breaking year for research funding.”
Kenneth White, immediate past president of the American Academy of Nursing, was the distinguished guest speaker. A highly regarded nurse leader, health care executive, and advocate for patient-centered care, he serves as dean of the School of Nursing at the MGH Institute of Health Professions and Associate Chief Nurse of Academic Affairs at Massachusetts General Hospital.
“I welcome all of you, the graduates of the class of 2023, to the worldwide family of professional nurses, some of you for the first time and others with the advanced master's or doctoral credentials you have now earned,” said White. “Nursing needs you because the world needs nursing.”
For 20 minutes, White wove an inspirational vision of limitless possibilities and promise, supported by gentle guidance. He shared his own story of growing up in “very rural Oklahoma” and becoming his family’s first college graduate. “You are here becoming a nurse or advancing your nursing career because of who you are, what you bring to the profession, what you bring to your patients and community,” he said. “Every patient is someone's mother, father, sister, brother, spouse, partner or friend. So we must continue learning about what I call the soul of nursing.... which must happen at the patients' bedside or in our communities to deliver the best care possible.”
He urged the SONHS Class of 2023 to pay attention, live in the moment, and learn from life’s lessons. “We must respect serendipity. Something may be presented to you that may change the course of your life and career completely,” he explained, sharing an anecdote about one such serendipitous moment to illustrate his point. “Your very own Dean Cindy Munro was one of my professors at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia,” he said. “I’m getting teary. Yes, Dr. Munro helped me with pathophysiology , the hardest class.”
“I liked her style so much that I sought her out to mentor me on writing a paper for publication,” White continued. From their first award-winning publication together to their induction into the Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing to White’s tenure as the organization’s president, they remained colleagues and friends . “She's always encouraged me to think big and be confident in my ability to lead,” said White, who challenged his audience to do the same. “Think of nursing as a very big, wide stage of which you can perform in many different ways and one that gives you both flexibility and purpose,” he said.
Before closing by reciting the well-known hymn “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” White called SONHS “one of the finest nursing schools in the world,” telling graduates that their world-class education “comes with the responsibility to continue learning as students of nursing, students of humanity, and students of the universe. The truth is,” he said, “it's not about you. It's about your service to others.”
Individual Awards Presented
Before beginning the awards presentations, Dean Munro recognized Mary Hooshmand, associate dean for graduate clinical programs, for her service to School and community on the occasion of her retirement. “Dr. Hooshmand is an exceptional nurse leader, educator, and human being,” said Dean Munro, adding that Hooshmand took a leading role in developing innovative doctoral programs such as the School’s new Master of Science in Leadership / Doctor of Nursing Practice joint degree program.
Hooshmand then took the stage to present the Doctor of Nursing Practice Excellence in Academic and Clinical Performance Award—the first of the evening’s nine individual awards—to Lauren Cutter, DNP ’23.
Greta Mitzova-Vladinov, Director of the Nurse Anesthesia Program, presented the BSN to DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program, Excellence in Academic and Clinical Performance Agatha Hodgins Award to Emily Sullivan, DNP ’23.
Dean Munro presented the SONHS Post-Graduate Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Excellence in Academic & Clinical Performance Award to Raysa Redondo.
Nichole Crenshaw, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Nursing Programs, presented the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Excellence in Academic and Clinical Performance Award to Gabriela Salas, ABSN ‘23 and the Accelerated BSN Excellence in Leadership Award to Kaylin Kolodziejczak, ABSN ’23.
Elizabeth Smith, Chief Nursing Officer for the University of Miami Hospital & Clinics, presented the UHealth University of Miami Health System Accelerated BSN Spirit of Nursing Award to Phillip Gutierrez, ABSN ’23.
Bridgette Johnson, Director of the Center for Nursing Excellence at Jackson The Jackson Health System, presented the Accelerated BSN Clinical Performance and Service Excellence Award to Janet Lee, ABSN ’23.
Annette Requena, general manager at VITAS Healthcare, presented the VITAS Healthcare Accelerated BSN Compassionate Heart Award to Ivette Ramos, ABSN ’23.
Arsham Alamian, Associate Dean for Health Studies, presented the Bachelor of Science in Health Science Academic Excellence Performance to Dayanna Ortega, BSHS ’23.
Commencement for Fall 2023 SONHS graduates took place the following day, December 14.
