On May 9, during National Nurses Week, the Spring 2024 Awards and Pinning Ceremony of the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies gave some 270 newly minted graduates a well-deserved opportunity to revel in their achievements with family, friends, and faculty.
As they passed under an archway festooned with orange, green, and white balloons on their way into the Shalala Student Center Ballroom, members of the School’s one-year Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing, traditional four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Health Science, and Bachelor of Science in Public Health programs took one step closer to their futures.
SONHS Dean and Professor Cindy Munro, who concludes her tenure at the end of May, was there to congratulate the standing-room-only crowd. “I was a ’Cane parent many years before I joined the University of Miami leadership in 2017,” she said, “so I know how you parents are feeling right now. My Hurricane Pride has only grown over these past seven-plus years. I’m incredibly excited for this School’s bright future, and equally optimistic about our new graduates.”
Dean Munro urged the roomful of graduates to “carry forward not just what you’ve learned here, but also who you’ve become.” She then introduced distinguished guest speaker Dr. Rita Pickler as “an amazing nurse scientist and educator,” as well as “a very dear friend and long-time colleague.”
Pickler, a University Distinguished Scholar at the Ohio State University and the OSU College of Nursing’s FloAnn Sours Easton Professor of Child and Adolescent Health, promised to keep her remarks “short, upbeat and, I hope, inspirational.” She also quipped that she did not prepare her speech with the aid of Chat GPT, referring to the artificial intelligence software.
This graduating class has had a unique experience, she pointed out, having entered college during the pandemic year of 2020-2021 and representing the last of the “COVID college students.”
Rather than offer advice from her 50 years in nursing, she elected instead to share personal and philosophical reflections. As a part-time resident of Key West, she emphasized the value of her city’s adopted motto, which is, “One human family.” “The idea of that motto,” she explained, “is that all people are equal members of the human family.”
Pickler went on to share a series of life lessons she’d gleaned from her recent trek along the Camino De Santiago (the Way of St. James), an ancient pilgrimage route dotted with yellow arrows to help guide travelers. Establishing the Camino as a metaphor for life’s wondrous odyssey, she said, “First you must know that the way is not always clear. What is true about the Camino is that the arrows really are always there guiding you, even if it takes you some time to find them and regain their guidance. That’s true in life too.”
She offered that tending to both destination and journey is crucial in life, as is noticing “the beauty that is our world,” taking care of oneself in simple ways, and loving deeply those who share their lives with us. Life, she said, “will be as varied and as interesting as you want it to be, because it will be your way, and your way only.” Take opportunities to be useful to others, she urged, “because you will find that helping others lightens your own way.”
She concluded with a call to action and a blessing: “Your life, your way awaits you,” she said. “As you go forward … I wish you buen camino.”
AND THE AWARDS GO TO…
Following Pickler’s remarks, Dr. Nichole Crenshaw, associate dean for undergraduate nursing programs, announce the evening’s first two individual awards categories.
She named traditional BSN graduate Sarah Sluka, BSN ’24, and Accelerated BSN graduate Shane Torrico, BSN ’24, as recipients of the SONHS Bachelor of Science in Nursing Academic Excellence Award.
The SONHS BSN Excellence in Leadership Award went to traditional BSN grad Gabriella Tuchman, BSN ’24, and Accelerated BSN grad Onyekachukwu Azih, BSN ’24.
Julio Garcia, executive director for nursing at University of Miami Hospital and Clinics, presented the UHealth University of Miami Health System Spirit of Nursing Award to traditional BSN and Accelerated BSN grads Mia Larrieu, BSN ’24, and Hui Che, BSN ’24, respectively. (Larrieu’s mother is SONHS alumna and associate professor of clinical Dr. Patricia Larrieu-Jimenez, BSN ’98.)
Dr. Alex Vasserman, Chief Nursing Informatics Officer at Jackson Health, presented the Jackson Health System Clinical Performance and Service Excellence Award to Shirley Chen, BSN ’24, a traditional BSN grad, and Phillipe Silva, BSN ’24, an Accelerated BSN grad.
Vahan and Danielle Gureghian, owners of South Florida-based Independence Home Health, presented the Compassionate Heart Award to traditional BSN grad Jason Inerarity, BSN ’24, and Accelerated BSN grad Caleb Carter, BSN ’24.
Arsham Alamian, associate dean for health studies, announced James Parker McElhinney, BSHS ’24, as winner of the SONHS Bachelor of Science in Health Science Academic Excellence Award and Camille Aguilar, BSPH ’24, as winner of the SONHS Bachelor of Science in Public Health Academic Excellence Award.
Finally, the SONHS Faculty Clinical Excellence Award was presented to Dr. Gerardo Chang, while the SONHS Teacher of the Year Award, determined by a student vote, resulted in a tie between faculty members Dr. Beatriz Valdes and Dr. Erick Zarabozo, DNP ’17.
Before the ceremony concluded with a lively reception, each graduate was called to the stage by name to receive a special commemorative pin from Dean Munro. “Please wear your SONHS pins proudly at Commencement tomorrow,” she said. “They represent an official welcome into the health professions.”
Learn more about SONHS academic programs.
