No matter where their journey takes them, all Badger nurses have one goal: to change lives through their strong commitment to service. Whether it’s bedside care, nursing research, or addressing global health issues — such as poverty and access to care — that service makes an impact on individuals, families, communities, and systems around the world.
Alumni Profile
2021 NAO Award Winners
The University of Wisconsin–Madison Nurses Alumni Organization (UW NAO) is proud to announce the 2021 NAO Alumni Awards recipients. Linda Kautza Procci ’72, MSN’74, PhD has received the 2021 Distinguished Achievement Award, and Emily Hansen Schumacher ’10, DNP’18, has received the 2021 Outstanding Badger Nurse Award.
Mary Jane Esser ’68
Joining the Army Nurse Corps started as a means to an end for Mary Jane Esser, but it quickly became one of the most invaluable and memorable experiences of her life.
A Journey of Perseverance
UW–Madison School of Nursing Alumna, Riley Hilliard ’20, talks about her dedication, struggles, and journey to becoming a Badger nurse.
Andrew O’Donnell ’11, DNP’14
Andrew O’Donnell is currently working on the front lines of COVID-19 as the interim co-manager of the Trauma Life Support Center at UW Health, supporting a staff of 120 employees, including 90 ICU nurses.
Amy Hermes ’10
“For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to help people,” says Amy Hermes, a 2010 graduate of the UW–Madison School of Nursing’s rigorous BSN@Home program. Now in her 34th year at Stoughton Hospital, and her third as chief nursing officer (CNO) and vice president of patient services, Hermes’ appetite for learning has not slowed down.
Phuoc Hong Nhan ’20
Phuoc Hong Nhan started his undergraduate career as a math major but found himself at the School of Nursing. “I always knew I wanted to help people. When I did my internship as an EMT, I got to be at the bedside…. It just felt right to me.”
Melanie Krause ’06, PhD’10
One of the first seven nursing students to join the School of Nursing’s early-entry PhD program, Melanie Krause has made a career in long-term health care systems. In her current role, she is responsible for providing comprehensive services throughout the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General.
Aniqueka Scott Moulton ’19
A member of the first cohort of the accelerated bachelor of science in nursing (ABSN) program, internationally educated Aniqueka Scott Moulton is a registered nurse for UW Health, working in the acute medical/progressive care unit where the team specializes in respiratory illness, including patients with COVID-19.
Q & A with Shawn Waldron ’12
A conversation with Shawn Waldron ’12, who currently works at the McMurdo Station medical center in Antarctica as its COVID-19 medical risk manager.