Emceed by Dean Hudson P. Santos Jr., the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies packed three student speakers, a dozen award presentations, and a genuine atmosphere of celebration into its Fall 2025 Awards and Pinning Ceremony. “Congratulations to all of our honorees and graduates,” said Dean Santos. “We’re so proud of every single one of you. You did it.”
Hundreds attended the tightly timed hourlong event recognizing 218 graduates in a range of degree and certificate programs, including Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Master of Science in Leadership + Doctor of Nursing Practice, Advanced Nursing Practice Post-Master Certificates, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Health Science, and Bachelor of Science in Public Health. Dean Santos gave special recognition to families and loved ones, who cooked meals, helped with finances, and even offered a shoulder to cry on from time to time. He also asked faculty, clinical partners, and clinical instructors to rise and be recognized for giving their all to the educational journey.
“Graduates, as you start this exciting new chapter, hold onto your enthusiasm for educational excellence and lifelong learning,” said Dean Santos. “Keep asking questions, innovating, and of course studying. As you prepare to take your boards, NCLEX, GRE, MCAT, or other exams, we expect you to uphold our 100 percent passing rate. We have prepared you to do this.”
Pinning soon-to-be graduates with Dean Santos were associate deans Dr. Arsham Alamian (Health Studies), Dr. Willy Prado (Research Affairs), Dr. Maria Ortega Hernandez (Graduate Clinical Nursing), and Dr. Nichole Crenshaw (Undergraduate Nursing).
Student Speakers Inspire
Held the evening before commencement at the University’s Shalala Student Center. The first student speaker was Alexandra Gallagher, B.S.H.S. ‘25. Focused on becoming a neuro-oncology surgeon, she earned both a B.S. in health science and a B.S. in neuroscience, magna cum laude. “When I think about my purpose, I don’t think about my resume or chasing a perfect GPA,” she said. “I think of my grandmother fighting for her life against her brain tumor and her neurosurgical team who just granted her another chance at life. I think about her saying how she just wanted to see me graduate, and Nana, look, we both made it!”
Also in the audience was Gallagher’s mother, who she said sold their home to keep her in school and on track to her dreams, “comforting me by saying, ‘They can take everything but your education. That’s what’s priceless.’”
Jumping back into the classroom was not only priceless but also a little terrifying, admitted the next student speaker, Aryeh Esterson, D.N.P. ’25, a graduate of the school’s Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Anesthesia Program, which recently ranked No. 1 in Florida. “But here we are now, smarter, stronger, and without question, much more caffeinated.” he quipped. There were even times he felt everything was going wrong. “I was stressed, second-guessing myself, and my preceptor said, ‘Take a deep breath. You know what to do. Just take care of your patient. That moment has stuck with me,” said Esterson. “That’s what this journey has really been about, learning to trust ourselves, even when things get tough,” he said. After thanking his family and wife, Esterson urged his classmates to carry forward after graduation “not just the pharmacology and the physiology but the compassion, the curiosity, and the calm we’ve learned along the way.”
The evening’s final student speaker, Elizabeth Newton, B.S.N. ’25, pursued nursing after working as an Emergency Medical Technician. “I realize I had no idea what being a nurse really meant before this program. Coming from working in the back of an ambulance, I believed speed was everything,” said Newton. “But this program taught me something different—that sometimes the most powerful thing a nurse can do is simply be present. Nursing is equal parts science and soul, and the smallest act of care can make the biggest impact.”
From Singing to Stethoscopes
Among the awardees was Timothy Madden, B.S.N. ’25, a graduate of the accelerated B.S.N. program. Unlike most graduates, Madden was an opera performer before he enrolled in nursing school. Asked his reason for the pivot from singing to stethoscopes, Madden replied in his rich baritone voice that in addition to job security and health benefits, “it was also really important to me that I was helping people in my community and making a difference.” A native of Mississippi, Madden has performed everywhere from Opera Colorado and Opera Delaware to Southwest Opera Company in New Mexico and Des Moines Metro Opera in Iowa. He said he came to the A.B.S.N. program at the University of Miami “because it has a great reputation,” and his own experience lived up to that.
And the Awards Went to…
Individual awards were presented by faculty members Dr. Alamian, Dr. Mary Mckay, Dr. Greta Mitzova Vladinov, Dr. Deborah Salani, and Dr. Nichole Crenshaw, as well as special guest presenters Dr. Carol Biggs and Dr. Victor Ospina, executive nursing leaders and key clinical partners from Jackson Health System and UHealth – University of Miami Health System, respectively. Here is the full list of Fall 2025 awardees in order of presentation:
- Khushi Bajaria, Bachelor of Science in Public Health Academic Excellence Award
- Luke Brunn, Bachelor of Science in Health Science Academic Excellence Award
- Sofia Tapanes, Bachelor of Science in Health Science Civic Engagement Award
- Karen Salazar, Doctor of Nursing Practice Academic Excellence & Clinical Performance Award
- Jenny Tsai, Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Anesthesia Program Agatha Hodgins Award for Academic Excellence & Clinical Performance
- Oly Mendez, post-master’s psychiatric mental health nursing certificate Academic Excellence & Clinical Performance Award
- Astrid Lopez, Bachelor of Science in Nursing Academic Excellence Award
- Timothy Madden, Bachelor of Science in Nursing Excellence in Leadership Award
- Elle Wilkinson Bachelor of Science in Nursing Compassionate Heart Award
- Berline Laurent, UHealth - University of Miami Health System Bachelor of Science in Nursing Spirit of Nursing Award
- Charlotte Purkis, Jackson Health System Bachelor of Science in Nursing Clinical Performance & Service Excellence Award
DAISY Awards
The evening’s final individual awards were presented by Dean Santos. Marlene Rosell, an adjunct clinical nurse faculty member, wiped tears away as she walked offstage with her DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Educator. Her students, who selected her for the honor, erupted in cheers when her name was called. And, for the second time of the night, accelerated B.S.N. graduate Berline Laurent, B.S.N. ’25, was called to the stage, this time to receive the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Student. Known worldwide, DAISY Awards, noted Dean Santos, “are extremely significant,” recognizing the “highest levels of compassion, service, and professionalism in nursing.”
Fall 2025 Awards Ceremony Photo Gallery.
Learn more about the school’s academic programs at sonhs.miami.edu/academics.
