University of Washington

Student Spotlight

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Liesl Henthorn

Liesl Henthorn

Hometown: Redmond, WA

Graduation Year/program: 2018/BSN

Research/Areas of Interest: I am researching homelessness among older adults, and have a specific interest in health disparities and social justice.

Do you have a faculty mentor? Dr. Anita Souza

Scholarship Recipient? Yes - the de Tornyay Healthy Aging Undergraduate Research Scholarship

Why did you choose nursing? I was a phlebotomist for many years and wanted to be more involved with my patients. I would see them before and after their appointments, and would often have scared, shell-shocked patients come in after receiving bad news. I wanted to understand their disease process, to be able to offer comfort and relevant information, and to have a hand in making them well again or cope with their disease process.

What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at School of Nursing? This school and program has offered me so many amazing opportunities for advocacy and community outreach. One of the most rewarding experiences has been working with Community Health Advancement Program to offer no-charge foot care and screening clinics for the homeless and medically underserved. This helped me to learn from other health sciences students and the patients we serve, and to practice technical and personal skills. I have also had the opportunity to collaborate with other health sciences students in Health Equity Circle to advocate for upstream interventions to promote public health, including lobbying for and against legislative bills that affect the determinants of health in Washington State. Most notably, I am now collaborating with a fantastic mentor, Dr. Anita Souza, to research influences of wellbeing on older adults experiencing homelessness.

How has your experience at School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? I have learned so much about myself and about nursing. My desire to advocate for underserved populations, to address health disparities, and to work for equity for all has solidified, and now I see concrete steps that I can take in my future career as a nurse to work toward those goals.

What are your plans after graduation? I currently work in the emergency department at the VA and plan to continue working there after graduation, and in my free time will engage in policy and advocacy work. I would like to eventually transition to public health nursing.
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
Rubee Dev

Rubee Dev

Name: Rubee Dev

Hometown: Biratnagar, Nepal

Graduation Year/Program: 2018/PhD in Nursing Science

Research/Areas of Interest: Maternal & Child Health, Adolescent Sexual & Reproductive Health, Family Planning

Are you a Scholarship Recipient? Global Opportunity (GO) Health Fellowship, Hester McLaws Nursing Scholarship, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) Research Grant, Hegyvary Citizens of the World Endowed Fund

Why did you choose nursing? Eye witnessing of someone leaving this world because of lack of proper health care management and untimely care shook my inner conscience and made me think about the field through which I could enhance the health of the people. I chose nursing because I wanted to help people who are still fighting for the basic health care needs.

What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School of Nursing? I have countless unforgettable experiences during my time at Nursing. The most remarkable one is the support that I received from each and every member of the nursing family at every stage of my nursing time. I feel uniquely blessed to have an academic advisor who has invested her dedicated mentorship in my success. Over the last three years, I have been privileged to work as a Teaching Assistant for a wide variety of classes under the supervision of highly encouraging faculty mentors. With each given opportunity, I have been able to develop a relationship with my mentors that I would cherish forever. Also, as a TA I have enjoyed being with students and being able to mentor (the job that I like the most). I constantly learned from the hardship of students that further motivated me to work harder. Finally, my time at nursing introduced me to one of the best cohorts of PhD students who are my friends now. I am truly blessed to find my lifetime friends.

How has your experience at nursing helped you with your career trajectory? As a PhD nursing scholar, I got an opportunity to carry out my doctoral research at one of the leading nursing institutes under the mentorship of faculty members expert in advancing nursing science. The knowledge and skills that I have gained here have helped me gain deeper insights in my areas of research interest, which in the future would help me advance my research career.

What will you be doing abroad this summer? I will participate in the World Health Organization (WHO) internship for this summer. My internship at the WHO will span for eight weeks. The principal focus of my internship will involve building the evidence base on adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) that will support countries to translate the evidence into action through well-conceived and well-managed policies and programs. Anything else you would like to share? The nursing program at the UW School of Nursing (SoN) has given me an opportunity to grow personally and professionally, which I had not even dreamed of. For the rest of my career, I would work towards advancing nursing science and becoming a better representative of the UW SoN wherever I go.
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!
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.
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.
Fiona Lazare

Fiona Lazare

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Graduation Year/program: 2018/Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN)

What is your research/areas of interest? Working towards BSN/ hoping to become a labor and delivery nurse/ passionate about equitable maternity care and improving U.S. birth outcomes.

Why did you choose nursing? I previously worked as a birth and postpartum doula. That work that drew me to becoming a labor and delivery nurse. In addition, I lost a dear friend to cancer several years ago. The time that I spent with her in a pediatric oncology unit at Milwaukee Children’s Hospital exposed me to more of the amazing work that nurses do. My friend, and her nurses, inspired me further to pursue a career in nursing.

What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School of Nursing? My first clinical rotation was in a trauma rehabilitation floor at Harborview. That experience, the patients I met and the nurses I worked with was an unforgettable experience!

How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? I have been exposed to all different facets of nursing. Coming in to this program, I had no idea what wide variety of opportunities were available for professional nurses. The possibilities seem limitless. I feel even more passionate now about becoming a labor and delivery nurse and hope to eventually return to the UW to work towards a DNP as a Certified Nurse Midwife.

What are your plans after graduation? currently work for Swedish Medical Center in Ballard as a Perinatal Assistant. My goal after graduation is to continue working for Swedish and enter their residency program as a new labor and delivery nurse.
Evie Devera

Evie Devera

Hometown: Bothell, WA

Graduation Year/Program: 2021/BSN

What is your research/areas of interest? COMMUNITY HEALTH!!! Also maybe Emergency Department

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.
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.
Truc Hang

Truc Hang

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Graduation Year/Program: 2019/BSN

What is your research/areas of interest? Community Health, Neonatal ICU, Trauma, Pediatric Oncology

Are you a scholarship recipient? Yes - Robert G. and Jean A. Reid Endowed Student Support Fund in Nursing.

Why did you choose nursing? Quite simply, to help others. Healthcare is a field that I personally feel comfortable in. I love the environment and the people but there are so many ways to be a part of the healthcare community, why did I choose nursing specifically? I value interpersonal relationships a great deal. Naturally, I saw the interactions nurses have with patients and fell for the profession. Combined with the amazing work nurses do and the relationships they build with patients, there really was no question that nursing is the life I want.

What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School of Nursing? My first day in purple scrubs. I am a Husky through and through. I have seen many students in the purple scrubs while I was working on my first bachelor's and I always thought that it would be amazing to be one of them. When I was given the opportunity to wear the purple scrubs emblazoned with the UW SoN patch and badge, I could not contain my excitement for what was to come. Personally, it was a great honor for me to represent the SoN and to know that I now have the responsibility of upholding all the values the SoN ascribes to its student nurses.

How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? Although my experience is short thus far after one only one quarter, it absolutely galvanizes my determination to excel as a nurse. I have no doubt that this is the right path for myself. It has given me confidence in pursuing whatever field of nursing because time and time again, the SoN has reiterated that it is here to help me succeed and to provide the stepping stones and tools I need. Rather than narrow my trajectory, it has opened up many doors for me which is essential at this early stage of my education.

What are your plans after graduation? I have always thought to one day become a part of the education process for future nurses, completing the circle. That, however, is a later goal after I have built upon my clinical experience. After graduation, I am going to start building my clinical experience and once I can confidently say that a specific field is where I want to stay, I will begin the process of getting certifications and consider working towards a DNP for that field.
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.
Tiffane Staley

Tiffane Staley

Hometown: Bellingham, WA Graduation Year/Program: 2020/ DNP-PMHNP What is your research/areas of interest? LBGTQ+, Mood disorders, and substance use disorders Do you have a faculty mentor? If so, whom? 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.
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.
Rafael Achacoso

Rafael Achacoso

Hometown: Lynnwood, WA

Graduation Year/Program: 2018/BSN

What is your research/areas of interest? Pediatrics, Pediatric Oncology, Health Equity

Do you have a faculty mentor? Yes, Amy Walker

Are you a scholarship recipient? Yes, KCNA Scholarship, SCCA Future of Oncology Nursing, Elizabeth Thomas Legacy Scholarship (Seattle Children's Hospital Equity and Inclusion Scholarship)

Why did you choose nursing? Nursing is the intersection of art and science. We must be able to take the scientific knowledge of the pathophysiology for different disease processes in order to treat and stabilize the patient. We take the art of interpersonal communication, emotional intelligence and cultural competence in order to ease the patient and their family through the process. Also, my mother was diagnosed with cancer and I saw the important role of nurses in the treatment process.

What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School of Nursing? I am part of the lead team for UW Nurse Camp. During a week in the summer, we mentor high school students that come from disadvantaged backgrounds and share our love for nursing. They are able to obtain CPR certification, shadow nurses at UWMC, learn basic pharmacology and other exciting and insightful things.

How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? My experience at the School of Nursing has validated my career trajectory and has developed me into a better future nurse. I was able to do my pediatric clinicals at Seattle Children's Hospital, where I currently work, and hone in on my nursing skills for this population. The School of Nursing does an exemplary job teaching students about health equity, social/cultural issues in nursing and addressing these issues. I feel empowered with the knowledge that many of my professors imparted.

What are your plans after graduation? I plan on working at Seattle Children's Hospital and hopefully pursue a graduate degree as a Nurse Practitioner or Nurse Anesthetist in the future!
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
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.
Isabel Stewart

Isabel Stewart

Hometown: Boulder, CO
Year/Program: 2019/BSN
Areas of Interest: Global Health Nursing, General Medical-Surgical Nursing, HIV research
Are you a scholarship recipient?: Beverley Anderson Menoher Scholarship and UW Purple and Gold Scholarship
Why did you choose nursing? I’ve always wanted to work with people, and for a long time I was trying to decide between nursing and teaching. Not only do I love the intellectual and emotional challenges presented in nursing, but being a part of the nursing profession will give me the opportunity to practice both as a nurse and as an educator someday, if I decide on that pathway.
What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School of Nursing? I’ve really loved the patient interaction gained through my clinical rotations at UWMC and Seattle Children’s. I also feel really grateful to work so closely with the instructors who lead our lab sessions.
How has your experience at nursing helped you with your career trajectory? I feel like I’m getting a very comprehensive exposure to different areas of nursing, through both lecture material and clinical rotations, which is allowing me to figure out which sector of work I might be most passionate about working in.
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!
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.
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.
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.
Mallory Peterson

Mallory Peterson

Hometown:Great Falls, MT

Graduation Year/Program: 2019/DNP Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

What is your research/areas of interest? asthma, diabetes

Why did you choose nursing? I chose nursing because I love helping people. I am drawn to vulnerable populations in particular because of my upbringing in rural Montana where I witnessed many marginalized populations struggle to obtain health care services. When I began my nursing career, I spent two years working in hospice care before I realized my passion for pediatric primary care, which I why I decided to pursue a DNP. What excites me most about being a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner is empowering children and families through health promotion. I hope to improve my patient’s health by equipping them with the tools to make healthful changes in their lives.

What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School of Nursing? I really enjoyed learning about therapeutic communication techniques in my mental health nursing course. I decided to employ these skills in a patient interaction during nursing school. One day, I cared for a patient who was recovering from a stroke. I spent over 45 minutes speaking with her about her life. She trusted me enough to tell me that her husband recently passed away and that she was having a difficult time coping with her grief. I listened to her and asked if she would like to speak to a spiritual leader or mental health provider. She thanked me for my time and requested a referral for a therapist, which I passed on to my nurse preceptor.
How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? I obtained my BSN through the UW School of Nursing. During my undergraduate career at the UW, I realized that I wanted to continue my nursing education and pursue my DNP. I am thankful to the School of Nursing for opening my eyes to graduate school options so that I can realize my dream to become a Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner!

What are your plans after graduation? I hope to work in a pediatric primary care office that serves predominately marginalized populations. I am considering a rural setting since there is a huge need for primary care providers in that setting.
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.
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.
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.
Shelley Brandstetter

Shelley Brandstetter

Hometown: Copley, Ohio

Graduation Year/Program: 2019/DNP- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Research/Areas of Interest: Pediatric Primary Care; Global Health; Rural/Medical Underserved Communities

Scholarship Recipient? Yes; Hegyvary Citizens of the World Endowed Fund

Why did you choose nursing? When I was in high school, my older sisters gave me the coolest gift ever. Instead of a new CD or some lip gloss, they donated the gift money to an organization that helped train nurse midwives in Guatemala. It was, to this day, one of the best gifts I’ve ever gotten. When it was time to apply to college, I knew I wanted a career where I would help people, and frankly I also wanted the stability and flexibility that nursing can offer. Not many careers give you the option to have 8 days off in a row as a regular schedule!

What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School of Nursing? My favorite moments so far have been those where I’ve been studying with colleagues and realize that we really have learned so much since starting September 2016!

How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? The University of Washington has such an excellent reputation. I hope to work in global health and pediatric primary care. Although I’m not sure exactly where I’ll end up working, I know my connections from UW and the skills I’ve learned here will serve me well.

Anything else you would like to share? I’d like to thank the donors that make the Hegyvary Citizens of the World Endowed Fund possible. Without their support, my trip to Kenya would not be possible. Additionally, I’d like to thank Kiersten Israel-Ballard and Kimberly Mansen from PATH for their exemplary guidance and support.
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!
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!
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.
Jax Hermer

Jax Hermer

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Graduation Year/Program: 2019/Doctor of Nurse Practice (DNP) – Community/Population Health

Research/Areas of Interest: I am interested in expanding the strategies nurses utilize to prevent and alleviate health disparities. I am particularly interested in focusing on programs and policies that reduce trauma exposure and increase strong attachments in the early years of life.

Are you a scholarship recipient? Yes, This year, I have received the Marguerite McAlpin Scholarship from the School of Nursing (SoN), the King County Nurses Association (KCNA) scholarship, and the Foundation for the National Student Nurses’ Association (FNSNA) Promise of Nursing for Washington Faculty Fellowship. Last year, I received scholarships from the SoN Nursing Scholarship Fund, Sharma Nursing Fellowship, and the Pamela Waechter Endowed Fellowship.

Why did you choose nursing? After my first Bachelor’s in Health and Environmental Justice, I was working as a community organizer and landscaper. My dad introduced me to Dr. Paul Farmer through the Tracy Kidder’s Mountain Beyond Mountains. Afterwards, I read Farmer’s Pathologies of Power and was inspired to gain more strategic tools that I could use to dismantle systems of oppression that were keeping people ill. I started taking pre-med classes and then one day, while walking to school in the snow, my next-door neighbor picked me up to give me a ride. At the time, she was a professor in Community Health Nursing at UW and told me about the program. The next quarter, I was taking pre-nursing courses. I was advised to get my BSN and then return to get my DNP after having a deeper understanding of the field.

What has been an unforgettable experience during your time at the School Nursing? Last Spring and Summer, my advisor, Dr. Betty Bekemeier, asked if I would help her facilitate the editing of a white paper being written by all the Deans and Directors of Schools and Programs of Nursing in Washington State. The paper was a proclamation committing to better integrate population health concepts into undergraduate and graduate nursing curriculum. Throughout the process, Dr. Bekemeier demonstrated her support of me by giving me challenging tasks that reflected my passion, intelligence, and interests. She supported my leadership development, helped me build new connections with nursing leaders, and provided me personal insight into the opportunities available after graduation. I feel so lucky to have had this experience. It was an incredible opportunity to work with brilliant nurse leaders and help influence future nursing education and practice. I had the unique opportunity to build a close relationship with a mentor who enthusiastically helped expand my assessment and evaluation skills. She soon will be helping me fulfill an academic goal as we work together to write and publish an accompanying paper this winter.

How has your experience at the School of Nursing helped you with your career trajectory? After five years as a Public Health Nurse in the Nurse Family Partnership program at Public Health – Seattle & King County, I returned to UW. I loved that work immensely and wanted to gain more tools to work on a systems levels to influence policy and practice changes that could improve the lives of young, vulnerable families. Through my work with Dr. Bekemeier on the white paper, current role as a research assistant at the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice, role as a Lactation Consultant at UWMC, and courses across nursing, health services, business, and social work, I am gaining a vast set of tools that will enable me to reach all my professional goals. I am still not yet sure exactly what I will be doing after I graduate, however, I trust that I will leave here with the connections, tools, and knowledge necessary to be a transformational nurse leader implementing innovative, evidence-based, and trauma-informed health care solutions that interrupt patterns of structural inequity.