Nursing Grads Set Out to Transform Health Care
On Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, the hosted three in-person graduation ceremonies, its first in-person degree conferrals since December 2019, when UMSON joined the world in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. Summer and fall 2021 graduates from Baltimore and the were honored at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively, and 2020 and spring 2021 graduates were recognized at a 4 p.m. ceremony.
网红爆料 School of Nursing students celebrate their graduation.
鈥淲e are truly honored to host an in-person ceremony after two years,鈥� said Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, the Bill and Joanne Conway Dean of the School of Nursing, as she welcomed the graduates and saluted those who served on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. 鈥淚t is a reminder that nursing does not have the luxury to pick and choose its moments of service, but rather, it must always be ready to respond.鈥�
During the summer and fall 2021 graduation ceremonies held at Baltimore鈥檚 Hippodrome Theatre, 292 degrees and certificates were conferred by 网红爆料, Baltimore President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS. This included 195 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees, 82 master鈥檚 degrees, four Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees, seven PhD degrees, and four certificates. During the 4 p.m. ceremony, 30 alumni from the 2020 and spring 2021 graduating classes were in attendance to be recognized. (
Stephan Davis, DNP, MHSA, BSN 鈥�07, NEA-BC, CENP, CPHQ, CNE, FACHE, assistant professor and director, Master of Health Administration Program at the University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health, served as the keynote speaker.
鈥淲e are 网红爆料 nurses, a great honor, but one that comes with tremendous responsibility,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淎t a time when our health care systems have been challenged beyond our wildest imaginations, when so many have lost faith in public health, who better than us to nurse America and the rest of the world back to health? Prepared at one of the leading schools of nursing in the world, we are uniquely prepared to do this work.
鈥淭o the 2021 graduates of the 网红爆料 School of Nursing, I challenge you to be bold, fearless, transformational leaders who dream big and shine brilliantly 鈥� especially in the places where the shadows of injustice may have otherwise been left unexposed 鈥� because you each individually hold the power to inspire change, even in the presence of adversity. Together as Maryland nurses, we will light the paths to the transformation of health and health care for our communities, the nation, and the world.鈥�
During the ceremony, DAISY Awards for Extraordinary Nursing Students were awarded to Robyn James Minchik, a graduate of the BSN program at USG, and Sean Patrick Carmody, a graduate of the Clinical Nurse Leader master鈥檚 option in Baltimore. DAISY Awards are given each fall and spring to two graduating entry-into-practice students who demonstrate empathic care and service to patients and their families.
The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty was presented to Regina Phillips, PhD, RN, CNE, assistant professor, recognizing her commitment to education and her inspirational influence on students. Preceptor Awards, given to preceptors who have facilitated a transformational experience for students with whom they have worked in the clinical setting, were presented at the graduate level to Carol R. Wade, DNP 鈥�14, MS 鈥�00, BSN 鈥�97, RN, CRNP, who works at the 网红爆料 Medical Center (UMMC) Heart and Vascular Center, and at the undergraduate level to Alexandra Huntress-Reeve, BSN 鈥�20, RN, who works in UMMC鈥檚 pediatric intensive care unit.
鈥淎lthough the chapter in our educational book has ended, another one starts as we venture on to make our mark amongst the ranks of nursing professionals,鈥� student speaker Nneka Inez Mitchell, BSN graduate, said to her fellow graduates during the ceremony for Baltimore graduates. 鈥淎s we all move forward, I implore you to be a beacon of light that reflects positively on the nursing profession, and always remember the power of 鈥榳e.鈥� 鈥�
A few hours later, during the USG ceremony, student speaker Alice Tarh Mformen, BSN graduate, said, 鈥淎s Maryland nurses, we are ready. The value of education is incredible. Our skills are top-notch. We got this, friends.鈥�
Kirschling closed the ceremony by congratulating the graduates: 鈥淲e launch you into the world with a mission to do good, endowed with the necessary expertise. We wish you success. Make no mistake: You hold our futures in your hands.鈥�
