About the BNN
The Badger Nurse Network is a professional group for UW–Madison School of Nursing Alumni who are active in their community. We bring alumni together with the School to share insights, resources, and ideas on healthcare and workforce challenges. With members in every region of Wisconsin and across the country, the BNN is a resource for School of Nursing alumni to stay connected to their classmates and the profession.
The Badger Nurse Network
While student-alumni connections are a valuable part of the BNN, the network is not just for practicing nurses. Whether you’re practicing, retired, or pursuing a different profession, the Badger Nurse Network needs your feedback on how your nursing education has contributed to your professional and personal development.
FAQs About the Badger Nurse Network
Is this a fundraising initiative? No. The purpose of the Badger Nurse Network is to promote collaboration and engagement among Badger Nurses.
RED Talks
The UW–Madison School of Nursing RED Talks showcase the School in action. This video series provides an opportunity for faculty, staff, and students to share current initiatives aimed at improving health through research, education, and practice.
BNN Resources
“I don’t think we have recognized all the ways the Badger Nurse Network might benefit the school and alumni.”
Peggy Zimdars, ’73
Badger Nurses Change Lives
Badger Nurse Network Members
Stay Engaged
Badger Nurse Network members stay engaged with the School of Nursing through emails, social media, and events when possible. BNN members have access to special events, lectures, and updates on the School.
Share Ideas, Resources, and Insights
Members help the School improve its understanding of the healthcare issues facing their communities by participating in special Badger Nurse Network conference calls and surveys. Topics include the nursing workforce shortage, research areas, continuing education opportunities, policy positions, and community health.
Reach Out to Classmates
Members grow the Badger Nurse Network by reaching out to former classmates and inviting them to participate.
Meet Our Alumni
One Family, Four Generations of Badger Nurses
Following in the footsteps of her great-grandmother, grandmother, and aunt, Emily Hanna is the fourth in her family to take part in UW’s nursing program. The generations of women in her family who studied nursing before her served as inspiration and motivation for her to pursue the same path.
Porter Scholarship Plants Legacy for Future Nurses
A Rhinelander, Wisconsin, native and proud School of Nursing alumna, Judy Porter wanted to provide the same educational opportunities that she had to future Badger nurses from northern Wisconsin. Her husband honored her last wish by establishing the Judy Porter Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Unleashing the Force of Transitional and Home Care
Dwayne Dobschuetz, APRN, Geriatric Nurse Practitioner at Northwestern Medicine and University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing alumnus, started checking in on older patients, as he rode his bicycle home from work. The experience inspired him to go back to school at age 65 to become an advanced practice nurse, and led to his current home care role.
Catalyst for Change
“I’ve been called a catalyst before and I believe that I am one. Challenge the status quo in constructive ways so you can achieve results in the system,” says Rachel Azanleko-Akouete, a recent graduate of the master’s in public health program at UW–Madison and BSN alumna. “We really need to inspire that next generation of researchers and public health nurses.”
Family, Faith, Fellowship, and Fitness
For Uchenna Jones ’02, ’09, it’s all about family. As a labor and delivery nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, she helps start new families. And as the organizer of both the Madison Gospel 5K and the W1N Crew walking group and the co-founder of the Sole Sistas Run Madtown running group, she helps keep those families healthy.
UW Alumna Sadat Abiri’s Global Fight Against Mental Health Stigma
Sadat Abiri ’99, MSN ’10, MPH ’12 is a psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner and a mental health advocate, particularly for immigrants and the homeless. Abiri is bringing leaders and psychiatrists from Africa to Madison to continue their conversation about dispelling mental health myths and stigma as well as to increase access to mental health care.
- More Alumni Profiles