University of Washington

Student Spotlight

Filter by:
Show all
Class year
Program
Scholarship

Nathan Dreesmann

Nathan Dreesmann

Hometown: Santa Cruz Mountains, Los Gatos, CA

Graduation Year/Program: 2022/PhD

What is your research/areas of interest? Pain and Coping/Geriatrics/Virtual Reality

Do you have a faculty mentor? Yes, Hilaire Thompson

Are you a scholarship recipient? Yes, T32 Training Grant

Why did you choose nursing? BSN @ UW - wanted to work with people in a medical setting where I helped provide quality healthcare. PhD @ UW - want to further our understanding of pain and coping in older populations using technology interventions such as virtual reality. Nursing provides a unique ecological perspective that can add to this knowledge base and inform future research in utilizing technology to help with pain management.

What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School of Nursing? Our PhD friendsgiving - was fantastic to share some of the best food I've had in the last 3 months with my cohort - a wonderful group who are now more than colleagues, but good friends I hope to maintain ties with throughout the remainder of my academic career.

How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? My BSN helped propel me not only into a good position as a bedside RN at UWMC, but gave me the mindset with which to adequately provide care for those in the inpatient hospital setting. My PhD is giving me a great base from which to build a solid research career.

What are your plans after graduation? Post-Doc at another university and hopefully come back to UW to work within the SoN as a member of the faculty.
Paula Kett

Paula Kett

Hometown: Seattle

Year/Program:1st/PhD

What is your research/areas of interest? I am in interested in the public health nurse role in improving maternal health outcomes, including a focus on reducing disparities in breastfeeding outcomes.

Do you have a faculty mentor? If so, whom? Betty Bekemeier

Are you a scholarship recipient? If so, please list the scholarship(s). Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholars

Why did you choose nursing? I am passionate about maternal health and improving maternal health outcomes in this country. I see the holistic approach of nursing - seeing individuals in the context of their family, community, and sociopolitical systems as the lens through which I want to work to make a difference in this area.

How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? If you're a first year student, what experiences are you hoping for to help with your career trajectory? I look forward to growing both in my content expertise and in my research skills. I hope to also have the opportunity to grow as a teacher as that is something I would like to do after graduation.

What are your plans after graduation? I am open to whatever path school ends up taking me on, but as of now, I am interested in a combination of teaching, doing research, and maintaining my practice as a lactation consultant.
Anything else you would like to share? I am honored to be an RWJF scholarship recipient. And excited to be a part of the UWSON!
Megan Stumpf

Megan Stumpf

Hometown: Cleveland

Graduation Year/Program: DNP 2022

What is your research/areas of interest? Global health, health education, and health equity for vulnerable populations

Why did you choose nursing? I always knew I wanted to go into a field where I could help others. Luckily, my high school offered a vocational nursing program that I participated in and I never looked back! I have spent the last few years in the critical care setting and am transitioning to more community focused projects so that I will be able to help a larger patient population at a time.

What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School of Nursing? It is difficult to pick just one! I look forward to every class period and every experience working with such talented and supportive peers.

How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? Moving from the critical care setting to more of a leadership/community role is a huge transition and I am so thankful to have a stronger educational foundation to do so!

What are your plans after graduation? I hope to work for a company that promotes population health and education. I am very passionate about health equity, both locally and globally, so I would love to be able to have a career that allows me to make a difference at the community and policy level.
Anny Qiu

Anny Qiu

Name: Anny Qiu

Hometown: Mill Creek, WA

Graduation Year/Program: 2022 / BSN

What is your research/areas of interest? Pediatrics, Labor & Delivery, NICU

Do you have a faculty mentor? Not at the moment! Having just started and being in a virtual setting, I haven't had the opportunity to find or build that sort of relationship yet, but all the faculty are so welcoming and helpful I'm sure I'll have tons of mentors by the time I finish the program!

Why did you choose nursing? I always knew I wanted to go into healthcare, but always debated which route to go down. It wasn't until my first job as a CNA that I realized how much I loved patient interaction, so nursing just seemed like the perfect choice! My parents used to always tell me that health is one of the most valuable things you can have, so to be able to be someone who can help people achieve and maintain that value is a dream come true!

Has COVID-19 impacted your decision to go in to nursing? Despite all the devastations that have come with the COVID-19 pandemic, I have realized more than anything else that nurses are an essential part of the healthcare system. Nurses were the ones holding patients' hands when family members couldn't, nurses were the ones on the front lines when most were safely at home. Now more than ever, I am extremely proud to be a part of the nursing community and can only imagine what great things the profession will continue to bring!

How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? If you're a first year student, what experiences are you hoping for to help with your career trajectory? As a first-year nursing student, I am very excited to see what clinical experiences the program will offer! While I have an idea of what area of interest I want to pursue now, life has taught me that things can always change! Being able to spend some time in various clinical settings throughout the program would be a great way for me to narrow down my career trajectory. Who knows, maybe I'll end up going into a completely unexpected field! You never know what could happen!

What are your plans after graduation? After graduation, I hope to gain some experience as an RN before going back to school to earn my DNP and ultimately become a Family or Pediatric Nurse Practitioner! I would also love to travel the world a bit as a new grad (if we are not in a pandemic that is)!
Angelita Utleg

Angelita Utleg

Hometown: Shoreline, WA
Graduation Year/Program: 2022/PhD
What is your research/areas of interest? The interaction of the gut bacteria with diet and symptoms of patients with chronic illnesses.
Do you have a faculty mentor? Dr. Margaret Heitkemper
Are you a scholarship recipient? Yes, King County Nurses Association
Why did you choose nursing? I love my current educational path in nursing. I am passionate in my contribution to biomedical science and research. I love being a part of a stronger, well-educated nursing workforce right at the beginning of the 21st century. We are improving the quality of care for all patients. This is probably the most rewarding experience one can hope to participate in.
I have an intensive research background in different fields (i.e., immunology, molecular biology, cellular biology, microbiology, genomics, proteomics.) My background is both in academic and biotech settings. The decision to transition from wet bench research to nursing required discernment, thoughtful reflections, and prayers. I have an inherent spirituality and resilience. This is my source of inner strength to help me carry on my life’s moral obligation. My moral obligation is to do good with the hope that it is in alignment with God’s calling. I believe that my faith has given me an inner strength to naturally care for people’s well-being. My past volunteering experiences at different hospitals and community projects in Honolulu and Seattle has given me remarkable experience. These experiences taught me that I can easily relate and connect at a deeper level with people of diverse backgrounds. I also come to believe that I have inherited a part of my Mother’s gift in healing others—her charisms of mercy and healing.
Life experiences taught me that I care and advocate for people who are from a disenfranchised, economically, disadvantaged background. These people are often non-native English speakers. They often lack the courage to speak up for themselves. Advocating for these groups is the best thing that I ever did in all my diverse work-related experiences. Nursing has given me the chance to get closer to my innermost passion in making a difference in people’s lives. Adding my research skills and knowledge to the nursing profession makes it more rewarding in providing services to patients who are not well-versed with the current cutting-edge scientific and medical technologies as part of today’s precision, personalized medicine.
As a nurse scientist and nurse clinician, I will make sure that each patient participates in managing his/her own health problems. I support the best nursing/medical intervention that takes a holistic approach--taking into account the culture, history, environmental and psychosocial factors, in addition to the biological underpinnings of the person’s disease. As a future Nurse Scientist, I see myself translating benchwork science into clinical practice by providing important patient education regarding the delivery or administering “state of the art,” cutting-edge medical intervention for the treatment of chronic diseases (i.e., kidney disease, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, GI inflammatory diseases, etc.) and help increase the awareness of healthcare clients regarding discrimination based on genetic information. I would like to make sure that the risks and benefits of specific therapy are clearly explained to the client and work hard to alleviate his/her fears in receiving a patient-centered, personalized health care intervention. With the current pandemic, people of color are hesitant to receive the vaccine for Covid-19 due to mistrust in the research process including drug development. I would like to support innovative nursing health care policies and research designs that encourage the participation of all people of color and from all various socio-economic strata to participate in clinical trials to ensure equity in health care delivery. While the implementations of innovative approaches may be initially challenging, nurse scientists with diverse backgrounds are equipped to deliver appropriate and clear messages to achieve the best personalized health care intervention and health outcomes.
In the future, I will support a feasible social justice framework for nurses in order to be fully engaged in works for social justice and successfully address health inequity, advocating peace, health and well-being for all humanity at the national and global level of society. A person’s zip code, including a consumer’s behavior and lifestyle all contribute to health disparities. As a nurse scientist, I will advocate for stronger welfare reforms if we want to see a more equitable, just society and a better outcome for everyone not just for a selected few.
Has COVID-19 impacted your decision to go in to nursing? No, I was already in my third year when the Covid pandemic began. I volunteered in giving the covid vaccination with the King County Health Department and currently work part-time, screening people for any evidence of flu-like symptoms all over the WA state. I am very committed in volunteering my time in serving the marginalized in our society. The pandemic has not deterred me in continuing to volunteer with the UW-University Street District Medicine and with the St. Vincent de Paul of Blessed Sacrament Church in Seattle. I recently took on a new role as the Blessed Sacrament Outreach Manager.
How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? Being supported by a National Institutes of Health T32 grant, I was able to get inspired by listening to well-known nurse scientists from all over the country talk about their work and expertise in my doctoral seminars. Attending lectures and discussions for the Biomedical and Research Integrity series every summer as part of the PhD program has been very helpful in providing me guidance for my future career as a Nurse Scientist. Part of my professional goal is to write informative articles that increase awareness of the current nursing practices observed in different nursing healthcare facilities with the goal to improve quality of care and safety as well as to potentially affect the regulatory process involved in creating nursing policies and guidelines at the state and national level.
What are your plans after graduation? I plan to continue working part-time as a nurse and simultaneously apply for a post-doctoral fellowship at NIH-NINR in Maryland.
In the future, I would like to work with a health care organization, preferably Seattle Cancer Care Alliance that collaborates with the University of Washington and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and participate in conducting collaborative clinical research work and help translate these results into practice. I want to be part of a team that translate new scientific discoveries in the clinical setting.
Alic Shook

Alic Shook

Hometown: San Francisco Bay Area

Graduation Year/Program: 2022/PhD

Are you a scholarship recipient? Yes, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholar

Bio: Alic Shook, BSN, RN, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholar, is a qualitative researcher and doctoral student in the School of Nursing at the University of Washington, Seattle. His doctoral work focuses on the experiences of transgender and non-binary youth, how they are discursively constructed in psycho-medical terms, and the impact that race, class, and geography play in producing particular types of “legitimate” transgender subjectivities. He explores how this impacts how healthcare is organized and who has access. Shook received a BA in English & Ethnic Studies from Mills College and a BSN from Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College. He is a former Fulbright Scholar to Thailand, where he explored HIV public health marketing campaigns and their contribution to risk discourses throughout Southeast Asia. He works in pediatric emergency medicine as a nurse at Children’s Hospital Oakland. He has worked as a research coordinator in the Substance Use Research Unit of the Center for Public Health Research at the Department of Public Health, San Francisco, and as clinical faculty at the University of California, East Bay.
Karl Cristie Figuracion

Karl Cristie Figuracion

Hometown: Born in the Philippines but spent middle school all the way up to high school in Los Angeles, California

Graduation Year/Program: 2023 / PhD Student

What is your research/areas of interest? Symptom science in addressing issues of patients with brain tumor.

Do you have a faculty mentor? If so, whom? Very fortunate to be mentored by Hilaire Thompson, Donna Berry, Basia Belza and Marie-Annette Brown just to name a few.

Are you a scholarship recipient? If so, please list the scholarship(s). Yes. Puget Sound Oncology Nursing Society Academic Scholarship

Why did you choose nursing? I have always been drawn to nursing since I was a child, probably with the influence of my grandmother. I love the perspective nurses bring into the field, whether it's with decision making, care planning, education or research.

What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School of Nursing? It's my first year and been thankful to have a supportive cohort and faculty. The openness and the collaboration among other students and the school have truly been one of a kind.

How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? If you're a first year student, what experiences are you hoping for to help with your career trajectory? As a first-year Ph.D. student, I hope to continue to grow as a researcher, further develop my teaching skills and expand my abilities as a clinician.

What are your plans after graduation? I hope to be able to merge research, academics, and clinic. I hope to have an opportunity to continue my research in symptom science among patients with brain tumors or those who have a history of brain tumor. I hope to one day teach as I love being a nurse practitioner, to be able to share that passion for the future generation of clinicians would be such a treat!
Jessica Chang

Jessica Chang

Hometown: West Covina, CA
Graduation Year/Program: 2022/ Masters in Clinical Informatics and Patient-Centered Technologies
What is your research/areas of interest? Social determinants of health, human-centered design
Are you a scholarship recipient? Yes, King County Nurses Association Scholarship 2021
Why did you choose nursing? I have Filipino-immigrant parents, Alex and Rene, whose resilience and compassion for others motivated me to choose a career that allows me to care for those in our community.
Has COVID-19 impacted your decision to go in to nursing? I took the leap into community-based nursing during the pandemic as I saw a need to improve access and utilization of the healthcare system for underserved communities. I've learned so much more about how the healthcare system needs to change in order to properly serve and regain the trust of marginalized communities, and my hope is that I can contribute to that change, even just a little.
How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? The MS-CIPCT program has given me the opportunity to meet accomplished faculty and peers whose diverse backgrounds and experiences remind me that my career can go exactly where I drive it.
What are your plans after graduation? After graduation, I hope to find a job that allows me to bridge my passion for reducing health outcome disparities and clinical informatics.
Derick Welsh

Derick Welsh

Hometown: Los Angeles, California

Graduation Year/Program: 2021/ABSN

What is your research/areas of interest: emergency medicine, pediatrics, prevention and well being of aging populations

Do you have a faculty mentor? Is so, whom? Basia Belza

Are you a scholarship recipient? If so, please list the scholarship(s) The de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging’s Germaine Krysan Undergraduate Scholarship

Why did you choose nursing? My first interest has always been health and wellness. I received my first undergraduate degree in sports medicine. I worked in a hospital with a Tier II trauma center for a few years, first as a medical scribe, and then as a cardiovascular technician. I thought that I wanted to be a doctor, took more classes, then decided that I did not want to spend another four years plus in school. But I still wanted to be in medicine. I started delving into nursing and realized this is flexible and I’m making a huge impact on the well-being of people. I will mention what got me into health. Growing up in middle school, I was not really interested in sports or activity in general. I started playing football and the importance of health started to become apparent to me. Then during my high school years, my dad had cancer, and he passed away when I was in high school. I learned there are certain things he could have done differently with environmental and nutritional habits. Knowing I could help other people lower the risk of this happening in their own lives, that was the start of it. Also, helping my grandparents with healthy habits and lifestyle choices inspired me to do more for the aging population.

What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School of Nursing? I think the biggest thing that UW has that I haven't seen in my previous education is a lot of anti-racist views, making sure that nurses are coming out with perspectives on social justice and equity. I think that's very important. It’s the first step to being able to come with a perspective of non-judgment to any person.

How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? Being able to work in the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging, which aligns with what I believe. I found the opportunity to work with the center through emailing them and it progressed from there. That turned into a specific project where I’m working with aging over the lifespan. I only have one year in the ABSN program, so I want to gain as much experience as I can within the UW community.

What are your plans after graduation? I want to start in the ER, where I can get a myriad of everything and gain more knowledge on emergency preparedness, then I would work my way into specializing after that. I would like to continue advocating and working with older adults in my practice and continue implementing my background in exercise science.
Hillary Frey

Hillary Frey

Hometown: Portland, Oregon

Graduation Year/Program: 2021/BSN

What is your research/areas of interest: Gerontology, acute or intensive care, neurological conditions

Do you have a faculty mentor? If so, whom?: Shaoqing Ge

Are you a scholarship recipient? If so, please list the scholarship(s) de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging Myrene C. McAninch Undergraduate Research Scholarship

Why did you choose nursing? I landed on nursing mostly from bits and pieces that I liked from previous jobs. It’s a good fit for my skills and interests. I like the hands-on care, the focus on disease management from a social and a scientific perspective. I like to have a role in community and public health. Especially with advanced degrees, there's opportunities and training to participate in leadership and systems change.

What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School of Nursing? My ambulatory care clinicals this year have been really memorable. I’ve seen a lot of nurse-led visits for managing chronic conditions. The visits are pretty long and interesting because the patients open up to the nurses about their medical conditions and a lot of other social, economic, and lifestyle concerns. I used to think that the nursing role in outpatient care was simple and straightforward, but my clinical showed me that nurses get involved in so many different aspects of a patient's life. These visits incorporated all the aspects of nursing care that I'm interested in.

How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? A big reason that I picked the School of Nursing at UW was because they had an honors research program and the healthy aging center. Those are two things that I knew that I wanted mentored experience in. I am participating in the honors program and I'm doing a project on healthy aging. I'm happy that the honors program worked out because that was something that I had to apply to. Having a research mentor in that field, I can see that it's going to help guide my career path.

What are your plans after graduation? I want to apply to work on an intensive care unit that has a population that is generally older. Hopefully working with patients with neurological conditions. I want to do that for a couple of years, and then apply to a doctorate program for acute care gerontology. I see research coming into my career more after I pursue the doctorate, where I can participate in studies as a doctorate level nurse.
Inthira Roopsawang

Inthira Roopsawang

Hometown: Thailand

Graduation Year/Program: 2019/PhD

What is your research/areas of interest? Frailty, Aging, Musculoskeletal conditions, and Quality and Safety

Do you have a faculty mentor? Yes, Prof.Dr. Basia Belza

Are you a scholarship recipient? The Mahidol University Scholarship, The de Tornyay Aging scholarships, McLaws Scholarship

Why did you choose nursing? No one stays with the patient and their family firmly through every stage of life from the 1st day of birth to the last day of life, but NURSES have that opportunity.

What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School of Nursing? The best unforgettable experience during your time at nursing is that I always have invaluable advice, encouragement, and support for me when I have met with faculty or others in the school of nursing at UW. As I have exposed to the great passion on academically environment, this excellent working environment can stimulate my creativity in both clinical and research aspects. That’s why this experience is the best unforgettable event for me.

How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? The excellent working environment can stimulate the creativity in both clinical and research aspects. As an instructor and clinical specialist, I intend to employ the faculty role and provide a good academic environment to all of my students and colleagues. The creative environment foster innovation which is significant to my career trajectory.

What are your plans after graduation? My future plans are divided into short and long-term planning. The short-term planning is to complete the dissertation work and graduate on time. For the long-term planning, I intend to be a good representative of the School of Nursing, UW by being an aging specialist in both clinical and research area. Also, I plan to participate in the aging conference and join aging research team to improve aging care in Thailand, then Asia. The ultimate goal is to be one of the experts in the aging field to change and enhance aging care by translating science into nursing care both locally and globally.

Anything else you would like to share? Some people think that nursing is a job, but it is not my definition. For me, the only way to do great work is to love what you do; consequently, I value of nursing care because it humanizes care.
Beth Tinker

Beth Tinker

Hometown: Seattle

Graduation Year/Program: 2019- DNP

What is your research/areas of interest? Parent/child dyads, behavioral sleep problems in young children, intervention research and translational science, home visiting, population health

Do you have a faculty mentor? If so, whom? Dr. Teresa Ward

Are you a scholarship recipient? If so, please list the scholarship(s). Robert Wood Johnson Future of Nursing Scholar

Why did you choose nursing? I pursued Nursing as my career because I was inspired by public health nurses I saw working in South Seattle. I saw in them strengths that I have and dedication to challenges I wanted to be a part of solving- inequity, poverty, suboptimal health, struggles with parenting, community despair. Nursing was a career in which I could weave and develop my commitments to science, caring for others and relationships with people. It has been a remarkable fit for me and I have never regretted my choice to be a nurse.

What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School of Nursing? I have been at the UW School of Nursing three distinct times in my career. I obtained my BSN in 1999, returned and obtained my MN/MPH in 2007 and am now in the doctoral program. I have many many unforgettable experiences with the SON, but I would say that this time around it has felt like coming back home. There are faculty and staff here that I have known for 20 years and some of those relationships were foundational to the nurse that I became and really who I am.

How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? If you're a first year student, what experiences are you hoping for to help with your career trajectory? The SON has helped me in many ways with my career trajectory and beyond quality of education, direct support,mentoring and guidance from faculty and a host of connections that I have been able to make vis a vis the school, there is one thing that sticks out to me. The UW SON has fostered in me a desire and passion for lifelong learning and growth. I really love being in school and the environment of pursuing truth and knowledge and science for the greater good of our communities and our world.

What are your plans after graduation? I don't have a firm plan at this point, but am definitely thinking about this more and more. I know that I want some teaching capacity in my future and I also am contemplating policy work. A future in academia is of interest to me as well, and I am looking at potential post doc opportunities.
Shih-Yin Yu

Shih-Yin Yu

Hometown: Changhua, Taiwan

Graduation year/program: 2022/PhD in Nursing in Science

What is your research/areas of Interest: Gerontology, Rural health

Do you have a faculty mentor? If so, whom? Barbara Cochrane

Scholarship Recipient? If so, which scholarship? Yes, from the Tyndell Fund

Why did you choose to go into nursing? When I was little, my parents worked out of town, so I was raised by my grandmother. She is one of the reasons why I'm interested in older adult populations. She passed away when I was 16 years old. I learned to treat patients with dignity from the nurse who cared for my grandmother. For me, nursing is not only a career, but a pathway to cultivate being a person who can help others in need. Nursing completes my life.

What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School of Nursing? I won't forget the warm environment that faculty create for students at School of Nursing. Many encouragements keep me hanging in there and moving forward. I will never forget the School of Nursing support system, which provides me with practical and emotional support.

How was your experience at the School of Nursing helps with your career trajectory? In the School of Nursing, I’ve learned how to conduct research thoroughly as a student. I’ve also considered joining a medical team in Taiwan to serve as a volunteer in rural, or underserved communities during summer in Taiwan, Nepal, Cambodia, or other countries. I think social service will be part of my career, and those experiences will help me be able to serve others.

What are your plans after graduation? I plan to do a post-doc after I graduate. Then I would like to return to Taiwan to teach and do research.
Emily Robson

Emily Robson

Hometown: Portland, OR Graduation Year: 2022/Program: DNP Population Health Nursing Research/Areas of Interest: Global Health; Women, Children and Infant Health Why did you choose nursing? I chose to become a nurse after volunteering with a health clinic in East Africa. While there, I witnessed how parents had to decide between feeding their families or affording the medications they needed to treat illnesses like malaria. This experience led me to become passionate about accessible healthcare for all and desiring to be in the nursing profession. As a Registered Nurse I have a medical skill set, can provide holistic care and a powerful voice to advocate for comprehensive healthcare. However, in my role as a Primary care RN, I felt like there was more to be done. I worked diligently alongside my patients to overcome barriers to their healthcare to only find out these barriers existed not because of who my individual patients were, but rather due to the system we live in. Population Health Nursing addresses these systems-level barriers. Instead of taking care of an individual, I will take care of a grouping of people who share a common identity such as diabetes, women, elderly, etc. to promote the community’s health as a whole. By completing my DNP in Population Health Nursing (PHN), I can implement healthcare initiatives to improve healthcare systems for underserved populations. What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School of Nursing? As a recently new student to the program, I was able to attend the Washington State Public Health Association’s (WSPHA) Annual Conference in Wenatchee, WA. While there I was able to connect with my track lead Betty Bekemeier, current School of Nursing students, recent graduates from the DNP PHN track, and other leaders in Public Health. I enjoyed getting to know a vast array of individuals who were equally as passionate to improve healthcare systems for our intended populations. My time with them and at the conference expanded my knowledge of Public Health within our state while making me feel like I was a valuable member of the nursing school’s community. How has your experience at nursing helped you with your career trajectory? Studying at the University of Washington’s School of Nursing has surrounded me with a diverse grouping of individuals who are working to overcome a multitude of health equity topics within Seattle and globally. As a student who is passionate about global health, I value the commitment my professors have to their students and the mentorship and education I have received on how to address issues related to health equity.
SarahAnn McFadden

SarahAnn McFadden

Hometown: Lakewood, WA

Graduation Year/Program: 2019 PhD in Nursing Science

What is your research/areas of interest? Vaccines, Systems, and Public Health

Do you have a faculty mentor? If so, whom? Betty Bekemeier

Are you a scholarship recipient? If so, please list the scholarship(s). Robert Wood Johnson Future of Nursing Scholar

How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? If you're a first year student, what experiences are you hoping for to help with your career trajectory? Working with my faculty mentor has helped me with my career trajectory. The opportunities and guidance has really helped me think about the directions that my career could go.

What are your plans after graduation? Post Doc
Kathryn Newton

Kathryn Newton

Hometown: Woodville, Texas
Graduation Year/Program: 2021/ DNP-CNM
What is your research/areas of interest? global health, expanding access to the midwifery model of care to under served communities, reproductive health
Do you have a faculty mentor? If so, whom? Ira Kantrowitz-Gordon and Molly Altman
Are you a scholarship recipient? If so, please list the scholarship(s). ACNM Washington Affiliate student scholarship
Why did you choose nursing? My mother was a nurse and I always respected the profession. I think nursing was a great fit for me to be able to serve my community in a meaningful way and know that I was making a difference.
What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School of Nursing? I had the opportunity to attend the American College of Nurse Midwives annual meeting in Washington DC last May as a student. It was inspiring to be around so many midwives and midwifery students from all over the US. I really felt like part of the midwifery community.
How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? If you're a first year student, what experiences are you hoping for to help with your career trajectory? I chose the UW DNP- CNM program because it is well respected in the midwifery community and I wanted a world class education. The UW Nurse Midwifery program has a reputation for producing strong midwives.
What are your plans after graduation? I plan on working in a practice that has privileges to deliver in the hospital setting where women and pregnant people will benefit from the midwifery model of care to empower them and their families with their birth experience. I would also like to be involved in women's global health and reproductive rights after graduation.
Andre Mattus

Andre Mattus

Hometown: Arlington, WA
Graduation Year/Program: 2021/ABSN
What is your research/areas of interest? Emergency Medicine, Flight Nursing, Community Outreach
Are you a scholarship recipient? Yes/King County Nurses Association Scholarship - Basic Program
Why did you choose nursing? Nursing is the embodiment of science, interpersonal connection, and impact. Nursing satisfies both my scientific curiosities and my desire to directly support and care for my communities.
Has COVID-19 impacted your decision to go in to nursing? Working in the UWMC Montlake Emergency Department while in nursing school during the COVID-19 pandemic has solidified my intentions to become a nurse in adult critical care because I've been a witness and participated in the most incredible patient care. Despite all of the challenges and fear that COVID-19 has presented us in the past year, I am empowered by the grace and skill of the nurses I work with. I hope to one day to be half as good as these amazing nurses.
How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? In my first quarter of nursing school, I had Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice with Johanna Hulick. A guest speaker from Airlift Northwest introduced me to flight nursing, which I recognized but had yet to really explore. I now hope to one day to be in the air as a flight nurse, providing emergent nursing care to critical patients en route to healthcare facilities.
What are your plans after graduation? I plan on becoming a registered nurse in adult critical care, in an emergency department, or a trauma intensive care unit. After developing my critical care nursing foundation, I then want to bridge the gap between austere medicine and in-facility care by flying as a flight nurse in the Pacific Northwest. In my time off, I want to become a Basic Life Support Instructor with the American Heart Association in the hopes of one day offering free or low-cost certification courses for underrepresented communities in healthcare.
Shavonne Reynolds

Shavonne Reynolds

Hometown: Seattle, WA
Graduation Year/Program: 2023/Doctor of Nursing Practice/Family Nurse Practitioner
Are you a scholarship recipient? Yes/King County Nurses Association Scholarship
Why did you choose nursing? As a woman of color in healthcare, it is glaring the lack of diversity in policymakers, decision-makers, administrators, and educators. As an advanced practice nurse, I want to be an inspiration. I don’t want people to ever feel that they do not belong in a certain space. I want to be a voice of empowerment, understanding, and knowledge for policies and programs aimed at addressing the disproportionate representation of people of color in healthcare.
Has COVID-19 impacted your decision to go in to nursing? The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the forefront the disproportionate infection and death rates among underserved communities, particularly among the black and brown. These staggering statistics are manifestations of longstanding structural inequities in the United States, and a call to action to provide and make available comprehensive health care to medically underserved communities. Thus, my overall career goal is to help establish and serve more community health centers in high-need communities that provide comprehensive health care to all, regardless of ability to pay.
What are your plans after graduation? My overall career goal is to help establish and serve more community health centers in high-need communities that provide comprehensive health care to all, regardless of ability to pay.
Thao Bui

Thao Bui

Hometown: Shoreline, WA
Graduation Year/Program: 2022/ BSN
What is your research/areas of interest? Women's Health and Community Health Nursing
Are you a scholarship recipient? Yes, King County Nurses Association
Why did you choose nursing? It wasn't until I had the first-hand experience as a patient at 19 when I was delivering my child, did I know that nursing was the career for me. During my hospital stay, the nurses were compassionate and caring. They saw me as more than just a number. The nurses caring for me saw me from a holistic perspective and interacted with me beyond their required tasks. During one of my most vulnerable times, they supported and comforted me through the entire process, to which I am eternally grateful.
The care from nurses didn’t end at just the bedside. As a participant of the Nurse Family Partnership program, I received care and support from a nurse during my pregnancy and my daughter between the ages 0-2. The support I received from the Nurse Family Partnership program has been incredible. The nurse helped me transition in becoming a mother, gaining confidence in my parents skills, supporting me in finding a job, and connecting me with food resources and free diapers.
I chose nursing because I love everything that the profession has to offer. Nurses are some of the most hardworking, supportive, and individuals I know.
Has COVID-19 impacted your decision to go in to nursing? COVID-19 has made me more aware of the disparities and health inequities that are present in the world today. It fuels my passion even more to become a nursing leader to promote health equity and dismantle the systemic injustices BIPOC and LGTBQIA+ individuals face.
How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? If you're a first year student, what experiences are you hoping for to help with your career trajectory? I'm so grateful to be a part of the School of Nursing! I love how supportive my classmates and faculty members are in helping each student succeed in the program. Before starting the BSN program, I have never really thought about pursuing a post-graduate degree. However, pursuing a DNP is now something on my radar through the awesome experiences and interactions I've had with current DNP students and learning more about their programs!
As a first-year nursing student, I am grateful for all the networking opportunities that exist to connect with nurses and learn more about their journey!
What are your plans after graduation? Upon graduation, I aim to work as a labor and delivery nurse and then one day transition to working in the Nurse Family Partnership Program. I hope to make a difference in the world, one patient at a time.
Anything else you would like to share? In addition to being a full-time student, I'm also a full-time mom!
Daniela Leon

Daniela Leon

Hometown: Renton, WA Graduation Year/Program: 2022/ BSN Why did you choose nursing? I chose nursing because I like the critical thinking it takes, the impact I can make on patients, and helping others. Has COVID-19 impacted your decision to go in to nursing? Working during COVID-19 in an ICU, I have seen the nurses I work with take care of the sickest patients, holding cameras for family members and exhausted after 12 hour shifts and all with compassion. They motivate me to be the best future nurse I can! How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? At the UW School of Nursing I have such a diverse group of classmates that bring in new ideas and challenge my thinking. I hope to be able to explore as many paths I can take in these next two years! What are your plans after graduation? I hope to work in the ICU I work at as a new grad! I want to one day do travel nursing both in the states and abroad and work in the NICU one day. Anything else you would like to share? Go Dawgs!
Kristi Louthan

Kristi Louthan

Hometown: Kenai, Alaska

Graduation Year/Program: 2020/ABSN

Research/areas of interest: Kinesiology

Faculty Mentor: Basia Belza

Are you a scholarship recipient? The de Tornyay Center’s Germaine Krysan Undergraduate Scholarship

What research or practice areas are you interested in? What I really love and am passionate about is kinesiology, so the movement of the body, and actually trying to fix physical problems as naturally as is possible. I was initially interested in going into chiropractic work, then differed into Emergency Medical Services, EMS, and then through that found my love toward nursing. The body is something I’m passionate about.

Why did you choose nursing? I’ve gone through a few different careers. But a few years ago, I sat down and said, nursing might be something I’m interested in. I had seen myself being pushed and drawn toward it throughout the last years in my medical careers. EMS has always been my main drive, I’ve been a firefighter, EMT, ambulance worker, ER tech, and a few other jobs with dialysis and a detox treatment facility. I was in the ER working right underneath nurses and physicians and able to see what exactly nurses in the ER do. After seeing nursing in that realm, I knew I was going to be very happy doing this. That was my final deciding factor. I always am trying to push myself and be open to learning new skills and new traits, techniques and knowledge in general. Nursing was definitely something I saw myself going after and wanting to pursue, so the ABSN program was the fastest way to do that and made the most sense for me. It works out perfectly timewise. It’s like it was meant to be.

What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the school of nursing? I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how open and willing everyone is in this department to support you getting to where it is that you want. It’s a stressful program, but it blew me away, having everyone behind your back, helping you so much to get to the end goal.

How has your experience at nursing helped you with your career trajectory? My goal as a future healthcare professional is to try to work diligently as a team member, and a future leader, to create a pathway for better quality of life for the patients and for a healthcare system that struggles with limited resources and increased costs of care. My background education is in kinesiology, a focus on movement, development, and maintenance of the body, and my passion is healthy living, through a collaboration of physical, mental, and emotional health, and simple objectives such as diet, sleep, and hydration. Completing the ABSN program will help me reach my goal of becoming a nurse for both my love of medical practice, along with my own personal love related to this idea of overall health.

What are your plans after graduation? ER work is what I’m most interested in, but I’ll see what specialty I’m more drawn to. It might be something totally off the wall, but we’ll see.
Catherine Munene

Catherine Munene

Hometown: Bonnie Lake

Graduation Year/Program: 2020/DNP

Research/Areas of Interest: Fall prevention in ambulatory care settings

Do you have a faculty mentor? Hilaire Thompson

Are you a scholarship recipient? de Tornyay Center’s Myrene C. McAninch Doctoral Scholarship

Why did you choose nursing? Initially, I was going to study computer science, but most of my relatives and friends here were in healthcare. They told me it was a rewarding and fulfilling field and suggested that I should try it out. I decided to take a CNA [Certified Nursing Assistant] class, and then I started working in a nursing home. And that’s when I realized, maybe this is something I really need to be doing. I enjoyed working with the elderly. I later went to LPN [Licensed Practical Nursing] school, then RN [Registered Nurse], and here I am now.

What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School of Nursing? The most interesting thing so far is clinicals. You learn all these things in class, but until you apply it, nothing really makes sense, for me at least. It’s been enjoyable going to different hospitals and clinics. We’ve been learning all these things about being a nurse practitioner, and then going out there having a clinical experience with providers, it’s been really rewarding.

How has your experience at the school helped you with your career trajectory? Everything really, because if I didn’t go through this training, I wouldn’t know what to do when I’m out there. I know what to do as a nurse, but not as a nurse practitioner. So the foundation is being laid down in the school of nursing. All the clinical labs and the teaching in the classroom are preparing me to be a confident and efficient provider.

What are your plans after graduation? I would want to continue working with older adults. Cardiology and infectious disease are areas that I’m really interested in. Two very different specialties, but very close to my heart.
Abby Link

Abby Link

Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
Year/Program: 2022/PhD
Research/Areas of Interest: Health care engagement in adolescent girls with HIV
Scholarship Recipient? Yes, Pauline Bruno Memorial Endowment
Why did you choose nursing? I knew nursing was going to be a part of my career patch since I was 14 years-old. I wanted to help care for and comfort people during their time of need. I also appreciated the medical component of nursing which allowed for performing procedural skills in nursing. The practical skills, the knowledge and relationships I have made throughout my career are invaluable.
What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at School of Nursing? My most unforgettable experience in nursing was the year I spent teaching midwifery students in Lira, Uganda. This experience was the impetus to pursing a PhD in nursing.
How has your experience at School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? I have learned and experienced several facets in nursing from patient care in hospital, clinic and home settings as well as teaching and improving infection prevention practices. The variety of experiences have provided me with a comprehensive view of nursing which includes collaboration, advocacy, critical thinking and respectful care. Through these learnings, I feel prepared to take the next step in my career which includes research, teaching, and mentorship for the next generation.
Anything else you would like to share? “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” -Les Brown
Diana Hernandez

Diana Hernandez

Name: Diana Hernandez
Hometown: Puebla, Mexico
Program/Graduation Year: BSN/2021
Scholarship Recipient? Yes, WW-NAHN LATINX NURSING SCHOLARSHIP
Why did you choose nursing? Does your Latinx heritage play a part in becoming a nurse? Hi, my name is Diana. I am a first-generation college student and D.A.C.A recipient. My parents migrated to the U.S. from Mexico when I was a year old.
Growing up, I realized that there were not enough Spanish-speaking nurses. I often had to take my parents to medical appointments so that I could translate for them. Due to the language barrier, my parents would often leave without receiving the care they needed. Because of these experiences, I wanted to be the change, I wanted to help other Spanish speaking patients interpret and receive adequate healthcare. If there were more diverse nurses, it would help remove language barriers and make it easier for patients to express their health concerns in their native tongue.
What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School of Nursing? An awesome experience school of nursing offers is the simulation labs. Being able to get hands-on practice and feedback afterward from our peers made it easier for when we are with real-life patients. It allowed us to learn from our mistakes and allow for learning to happen.
Anything else you would like to share? Being a Latina nursing student, I have seen the positive impact it has on patients and their families. It's important to have nurses who mirror their community because nurses who have similar racial or cultural backgrounds eliminate potential barriers and overall create a better understanding of the patient in a holistic view.
Evie Devera

Evie Devera

Hometown: Bothell, WA

Graduation Year/Program: 2021/BSN

What is your research/areas of interest? COMMUNITY HEALTH!!!

Are you a scholarship recipient? If so, please list the scholarship(s). Yes! College Bound as of right now, but hopefully more next year!

Why did you choose nursing? I have always had a passion for serving underrepresented communities. I also have a love for medicine, sociology, and communication. I also hate the idea of doing the same thing or having the same routine for the rest of my life. I love to be spontaneous and try new things and learn. As I searched for what major fit me, I realized nursing checked every part of my dream job list!

What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School of Nursing? During my community health clinical, I got to see public health in action for the first time and I just fell in love. Meeting new populations and coming up with creative ways to engage them in their communities is a beautiful thing. I also have a passion for patient education and early intervention. I think that to be able to help others before they need it is the best help you could ever give someone.

How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? If you're a first year student, what experiences are you hoping for to help with your career trajectory? As you may be able to tell, I'm very passionate about community health. However, I am very excited for my hospital clinicals because I have never worked for a hospital before. I came into nursing school with only skilled nursing home experience so I am excited to see how different it will be and if it inspires me to pursue a different nursing field.

What are your plans after graduation? After graduation, I plan to find a job in community health that ideally works with children and/or moms/families. I plan to come back to UW after a few years for graduate school, but we'll get there when we get there.

Anything else you would like to share? If you're interested at all in nursing or just want to experience something new and fun, join Future Nurses Club!!! It's great for networking, learning life skills, making friends, and so much more! This is a shameless plug.
Tiffane Staley

Tiffane Staley

Hometown: Bellingham, WA
Graduation Year/Program: 2020/ DNP-PMHNP
Research areas of interest: LBGTQ+, Mood disorders, and substance use disorders
Faculty mentor: Amy Walker
Why did you choose nursing? I choose nursing because I wanted to help and care for people beyond a diagnosis. As a nurse I care for individuals holistically which impacts lives in more ways than one. I am not only concerned with how effective treatment is but how my patient is doing in all aspects of life. After practicing as a registered nurse for 5 years I wanted to take this nursing philosophy to the next level by becoming a nurse practitioner. I have seen disparities and needs happening within the walls of or hospitals and on the streets of Seattle. I believe nurses and nurse practitioners are one of the solutions our population requires to meet the needs of the country. By becoming a nurse practitioner I hope to have a greater impact on the community which I live and practice in.
What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School of Nursing? If you're a first year, you can disregard. An unforgettable experience during my time at the School of Nursing (SoN) would be participating in Nurse Legislative Day. I remember getting on the bus with my classmates some who I knew and others not so much. We all were given purple scarves and a sense of unity filled the space. Once we arrived at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts to hear from various speakers on how to advocate and speak with our representatives Governor Jay Inslee came on the stage. During his speech he gave a special shout-out to mental health nurses and myself and classmates in the PMHNP track yelled in appreciation. We then broke up into our districts and strategized how we were going to approach our representative and what issues were important to us as nurses. Then we met with our representatives which I never thought was something I could or would do. We were able to hear their thoughts on current or upcoming bills and ask for their support. They expressed their value of the opinions of nurses and how important we were to the community. Throughout the day I met new individuals from different school and from within my own cohort. I gained a lot from that day including new friendships and the confidence to engage in politics.
How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? If you're a first year student, what experiences are you hoping for to help with your career trajectory? The access to speak with faculty and staff alone has helped me with my career trajectory. I have had the opportunity to participate with faculty on research opportunities which is an area I had no experience in before. This opportunity provided insight into what completing research and prospects having a PhD would provide. Faculty and staff have encouraged me to pursue a PhD in order to reach my goals of impacting the LGBTQ+ community.
What are your plans after graduation? Plans after graduation is to start the PhD program so I can further impact and support the communities I belong to. In addition I would like to practice in an outpatient setting 1-2 days a week while completing my PhD.
Malia Wood-Rodriguez

Malia Wood-Rodriguez

Name: Malia Wood- Rodriguez
Hometown: Manson
Graduation Year/Program: 2023/DNP
What is your research/areas of interest? Psychiatric Mental Health
Do you have a faculty mentor? If so, whom? Jean Tang and Betsy Mau
Are you a scholarship recipient? Yes, Latino Center for Health Student Scholars Fellowship
Why did you choose nursing? I choose nursing because I enjoy working in a collaborative setting. I feel in nursing, you are never bored; there is always something to learn and do. I love that nursing is a vibrant career where we can touch people’s lives in a meaningful way. As a nurse, I feel humbled that I get to be there for people when they are often at vulnerable times in their lives.
How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? UW has excellent academic foundations, and its faculty has by far exceeded my expectations. The support and understanding from faculty during a time like this has role modeled qualities I want to integrate into my DNP practice. The classes I’ve taken so far have brought awareness and a necessity to think bigger. I always felt a calling to work with underserved populations, but now it has intensified. Through UW guidance, I am beginning to unveil my eyes to my potential and how I can affect Health Equity. I am excited to learn of more ways and methods to help address social determinants of health as I go on to be a PMHNP. I’ve noticed my leadership form is getting stronger as it continues to develop as well as my critical thinking. I am stimulated continuously with content from my professors and fellow students.
What are your plans after graduation? My career objectives after graduation are working as a PMHNP serving rural Latinx children and families. I feel I can be a resource for this community because I have a similar background. My dream is to open a multicultural mental health center (s) where we can partner with community organizations. After graduation, I also plan to return to school eventually and obtain my Public Health Nurse degree. I am finding it vital to my role to help develop and protect our communities.
Ben White

Ben White

Hometown: Little Rock, Arkansas

Graduation Year: 2023/Program: PhD

What is your research/areas of interest? Pediatrics and Sleep

Do you have a faculty mentor? If so, whom? Dr. Teresa Ward and Dr. Jennifer Sonney

Are you a scholarship recipient? If so, please list the scholarship(s). Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholar<br>

Why did you choose nursing? I chose nursing because I've always been fascinated by the science of health and was attracted to the time that nurses are allowed to develop relationships with their patients and families.

What are your plans after graduation? After graduation, I'm not sure whether I will pursue a position with a hospital or a university, but I know for certain that whatever I do will involve nursing research.
Tao Zheng

Tao Zheng

Hometown: Jieyang, Guangdong, China Graduation Year/Program: 2024/PhD Nursing Science What is your research/areas of interest? Sleep and cognition in individuals with advanced heart failure after receiving a left ventricular assist device Do you have a faculty mentor? Cynthia Dougherty, Elaine Thompson Are you a scholarship recipient? Magnuson Scholarship 2021-2022; American Association of Critical-Care Nurses National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition (NTI) scholarship (national, and 1st place local chapter) 2020; T32 Omics and Symptom Science Training Grant 2019-2021 Why did you choose nursing? I made a transition from business to nursing when I moved to the US in 2006. However, I have always known I love being with people and teaching, which inspired me to choose nursing and eventually motivated me to pursue my Master of Nursing degree as a nurse educator. For over 10 years in my clinical practice, I have witnessed patients with advanced heart failure living in a cycle of frequent transitions between care settings, struggling with unmet needs and distress from inadequately managed symptoms, which piqued my interests to better understand symptom and symptom management science to improve the quality of life in persons with advanced heart failure. Has COVID-19 impacted your decision to go in to nursing? Definitely. As a registered nurse, my daily clinical practice has been highly impacted by COVID-19. I can only imagine how much the pandemic has impacted individuals with chronic illness. I am committed to generate ideas, strategies, and new knowledge on how to optimize patient outcomes. How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? My experience as a PhD student has been outstanding. Since I started the program with the support of the Omics and Symptom Science training program, I have received interdisciplinary didactic research training in the fundamental theories, methods, and skills necessary to conduct research that includes physiologic measures in concert with symptoms. As part of my education and professional development, I have joined an interdisciplinary research team in cardiovascular nursing science led by Dr. Cynthia Dougherty and Dr. Elaine Thompson. With this team, I have gained knowledge in evaluating outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease. I am currently working as a research assistant with Dr. Jonathan Auld, I have gained experience and skills in data abstraction, entry, and management that are necessary for my proposed dissertation project. What are your plans after graduation? I plan to pursue postdoctoral training immediately following the completion of my PhD to continue to participate in mentored research while conducting further quantitative and qualitative data analysis to shape future intervention development to enhance symptom and symptom management science in people living with AHF. Ultimately, I hope to obtain a faculty position at a research-intensive university that will allow me to continue to work on interdisciplinary teams to further my program of research. Anything else you would like to share? I love to cook and I started a youtube channel during the pandemic. I am a 500 hour certified yoga instructor.
Boeun Kim

Boeun Kim

Hometown: Seoul, South Korea

Graduation Year/Program: 2021/PhD

Research/areas of interest: Cognitive health, healthy aging, and healthy equity.

Do you have a faculty mentor? Basia Belza

Are you a scholarship recipient? School of Nursing Scholarship from Pfeiffer and Goldsbury funds, and de Tornyay Center Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholarship

Why did you choose nursing? When I was 10 years old, I lost my grandfather. He was injured in a car accident and had severe brain injuries. After a long stay in intensive care, he was sent home, but he never fully recovered. He was not able to communicate, move, or eat independently. He passed away two years after the accident. We all had to learn to deal with our grief. The impact of brain health on my whole family has forever been imprinted on my mind. When I was a high school student, I was looking for ‘what should I do’ and I found nursing. I thought a nurse can support sick people and volunteer for those who cannot access health care for reasons like financial issues. I could have a job, and at the same time I could help other people.

What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School of Nursing? There are a lot of unforgettable moments at the School of Nursing, such as when I passed the general exam, when I received an award at Western Institute of Nursing annual conference and when I first published an article. The best thing that I have done at the School of Nursing is meeting a great mentor. I have faced a lot of challenges, but I can successfully finish the last three years because of support from faculty members, family, and colleagues. Without their help, I could not be here.

How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? I learned a lot of knowledge and research skills from research projects and my course work, which are essential to building my career. However, I cannot learn all the knowledge that I need from courses. The more important skill is learning how to approach a problem I have never seen before. The key thing that I have learned from my mentor and the PhD program is how I can approach new problems and where I can find resources to help solve those problems.

What are your plans after graduation? I plan to apply for a post-doctoral position in healthy aging and neighborhood environments field and then keep developing my career in this field. I want to continue to conduct research to improve cognitive health in older adults.
Aaron Tu

Aaron Tu

Name: Aaron Kha Tu

Hometown: Olympia

Graduation Year/Program: 2021/BSN

What is your research/areas of interest? Emergency/Trauma

Do you have a faculty mentor? If so, whom? Dr. Kerryn Reding (Associate Professor, Behavioral Nursing and Health Informatics) and SFC Meyers (Assistant Professor of Military)

Are you a scholarship recipient? If so, please list the scholarship(s) Robert G. and Jean A. Reid Endowed Student Support Fund in Nursing

Why did you choose nursing? I chose nursing because nursing bridges the gap between advancements in medicine and humanity. Nurses can make holding your hand seem like the most important thing in the world when you are scared. Nurses can help children breathe when they stop. Because of nurses a father can survive a heart attack and a mother can receive the medicine she needs to live. Nurses put the lives of their patients before the lives of their own because they can make the greatest difference.

What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School of Nursing? The connections made with other nursing students has made my time at the School of Nursing meaningful.

How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? If you're a first year student, what experiences are you hoping for to help with your career trajectory? As a first year student, I hope to experience Clinical in a variety of healthcare settings in order for me to determine where I fit in best and can make the most difference for patients.

What are your plans after graduation? After graduation, I plan to go wherever the Army sends me and to fulfill my duty as a nurse. In doing this, I hope to broaden my leadership skills and serve those who serve our country.

Anything else you would like to share? I am grateful for the opportunity to study at the UW School of Nursing.
Leigh Kalaman

Leigh Kalaman

Hometown: Ohio
Graduation Year/Program: 2023/Doctor of Nursing Practice - Family Nurse Practitioner
What is your research/areas of interest? Trauma
Are you a scholarship recipient? Yes, King County Nurses Association
Why did you choose nursing? I chose nursing at a young age because I always wanted to help others. As I grew as a nurse, I became fascinated with all that nursing has to offer and the important role that we play in our patient's lives. Now, as a DNP student, I am excited to continue my nursing journey as a future practitioner.
How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? Being a first-year graduate student, I have been impressed with how dedicated the teaching staff is in ensuring that we are supported during this process. I am sure that with all of the connections I make and the skills that I will learn, my future career path will be exciting.
What are your plans after graduation? After graduation, I hope to begin my role as an FNP in a clinic setting.
Arlene Johnson

Arlene Johnson

Name: Arlene Johnson
Hometown: San Diego
Graduation Year/Program: 2021/DNP Nurse Midwifery
What is your research/areas of interest? Midwifery
Do you have a faculty mentor? If so, whom? Clare Sherley, Molly Altman, Judy Lazarus
Why did you choose nursing? I have been a labor and delivery nurse for almost 10 years now. My passion lies in the perinatal and neonatal fields. There is always so much more we can do that can make a tremendous difference in this field. I believe I have a strong calling for Nurse Midwifery and this is what pulled me to apply for grad school.
What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School of Nursing? This journey has been very enlightening specifically in the experiences of social justice, gender affirming care, and trauma informed care. These experiences are unforgettable and will take with me on this journey to becoming a midwife.
How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory Going back to nursing school is allowing me to complete the doctorate of nursing practice and achieve my career goals of becoming a certified nurse midwife.
What are your plans after graduation? My plans after graduation are to work in Kitsap county for a few years as CNM then open up a private practice in the area to meet the needs of my growing community on the Olympic Peninsula.
Isadora Yi

Isadora Yi

Hometown: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Graduation Year/Program: 2020/ DNP

Research/Areas of Interest: Geriatrics

Are you a scholarship recipient? de Tornyay Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholar

Do you have a faculty mentor? Hilaire Thompson

Why did you choose nursing? I would like to say that nursing chose me, but I think my grandmother laid down the first steppingstone. I spent a lot of time at the university hospital as a child because my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. I remember thinking the physicians looked so cool in their white coats, and the nurses were so kind to my grandmother. I knew I wanted to work in the medical field. My first job was in cancer research, in the exact same university hospital my grandmother was treated in. And then life happened, and I was in California. I had all this passion and energy, and I needed to do something. I saw a sign for a community college near my home, not knowing that it was one of the top-ranking community college RN [Registered Nursing] programs in Southern California at the time. The average wait is one to two years, but I got in the first time, three months after I applied. To be honest, it started out as ‘maybe I can do something on the side’. Then I got into it and realized nurses do so much more than I thought and most people probably see. It’s really changed me. Nursing taught me empathy and brought more humanism into me. I see the world in color now versus just black and white.

What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School of Nursing? Meeting intelligent, independent, and confident women who are also motivated to advance their skills and knowledge to help others. I made many new friends that I have so much respect for and look to for support. I never felt like I fit in until I met these great people. We cheer each other on, celebrate the good, and push through the not so good. They helped me find my voice and have continuously pushed me to become a better version of myself.

How has your experience at the school of nursing help with your career path? It’s given me opportunities to learn about the different sectors of nursing, something I wouldn’t be able to do alone because no one in my family has a health care background. I’m a first-generation college grad, so navigating academia has been a little challenging in various ways. The faculty has helped me to spread my wings in a safe space while giving me guidance when I need it.

What are your plans after graduation? Between March and graduation in June, I’ll be prepping for and taking my boards. I also have a big trip coming up. It’s become a Korean tradition for children to send their parents on an overseas trip for their 60^th birthday, so I plan on taking my parents on a trip somewhere in Europe after graduation. It will be their first time in Europe!
Neal Cragg

Neal Cragg

Hometown: Burlington, WI
Graduation Year/Program: DNP 2021 - Adult-Gero Acute Care
What is your research/areas of interest? Palliative Care
Do you have a faculty mentor? Joelle Fathi
Are you a scholarship recipient? Nursing Scholarship Fund, Palliative Care Training Center - General Scholarship
Why did you choose nursing?Nursing is a profession of strong ethics, fierce advocacy, emotional depth and powerful patient stories; I was sold from day 1 of my first nursing class, freshman year at University of Wisconsin (go Badgers!)
Has COVID-19 impacted your decision to go in to nursing? I was already too far committed into being a nurse prior to this past year! But honestly, I’m so proud and grateful for our profession; we ALL deserve every ounce of praise!
How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? The School of Nursing supported my dream of becoming an inpatient palliative NP, even when I myself had doubts. I was also able to be a TA multiple times, which has given me phenomenal teaching and academic experience.
What are your plans after graduation? Sleep? Study for boards? Have a cocktail?
And after that,staying in the Seattle area as an inpatient palliative NP at Overlake Hospital in Bellevue, WA.
Anything else you would like to share? I have been fairly well involved with unicoRN, the nursing LGBTQIA student org, and hope to continue advocating as an alum for the SoN to progress towards a more diverse and inclusive curriculum for all intersections of life.
Liliana Palacios

Liliana Palacios

Name: Liliana Palacios (she/her/ella)
Hometown: Federal Way, WA
Program/Graduation Year: DNP FNP/2023
Research/Areas of Interest: Health equity, community health
Scholarship Recipient? If so, which scholarship? Yes, 2020 WW-NAHN Latinx Nursing Scholarship
Why did you choose nursing? My mother has worked in a hospital since I can remember, from nursing assistant to unit secretary and now surgical technician. So, I always had an idea of what a nurse did and that sparked my interest. In 2011, I participated in UW Nurse Camp. That experience gave me the confidence to pursue nursing, while also sparking interest in making a difference in my community.
Does your Latinx heritage play a part in becoming a nurse? If so, how? As a first-generation Salvadoran American that grew up around a large portion of my extended family, I was able to grow up speaking both Spanish and English. My culture and ability to speak to my patients in their native language is something that I’m very proud of and use any chance I can. As I’ve grown older, I realize that there are many system level injustices that need to be addressed and dismantled that I hope be part of in order to improve health disparities in the Latinx population, as well as other immigrant populations.
What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School of Nursing?  As a past UW Nurse Camp participant my most memorable experience at the School of Nursing was being part of the leadership team and plans and executes the camp. I began my journey into nursing as a high school camper, then returned as a team member on the SON DAwGs team as a BSN student, and now hope to return as a member as a DNP student. I couldn’t be any more proud that and thankful for the support I’ve received from the School of Nursing!
Katherine Winters

Katherine Winters

Hometown: Carlsbad, California Graduation Year/Program: 2021/ DNP Nurse-Midwifery Why did you choose nursing? Nurses care for the whole patient in the context of their families, communities, and society. In order to make individuals healthier, nurses must address social determinants of health like racism, food insecurity, and other structural inequities. I love the holistic approach to bettering the world around me, and touching individuals' lives in the process. What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School of Nursing? Learning in the time of COVID-19 has been difficult, but our faculty have been supportive and creative. We have been practicing suturing and hand maneuvers for catching babies over Zoom! I'm pretty sure we'll be some of the only future midwives who can say that. How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? The faculty at the UW School of Nursing are committed to social justice in all they do. I'm inspired by their research on racial inequity in maternal mortality, traumatic birth experiences, stress, sleep, and more. I really hope to use my future role as a midwife to serve communities using evidence-based and person-centered practice. What are your plans after graduation? I hope to work in a midwifery practice that provides full scope midwifery care: that means birth, prenatal and postpartum care, sexual and reproductive health, gender-affirming care, and primary care. We do a lot!