The University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing honored five graduates with nursing pins presented by the Nurses Alumni Organization (NAO) on May 6.
Alumni News & Events
2019 NAO Award Winners
The UW Nurses Alumni Organization (NAO) salutes alumni each year who have made significant contributions to the nursing profession. The most recent winners—Nancy Kaufman ’71, who received the Distinguished Achievement Award, and Jessica Kendall ‘14, who received the Outstanding Badger Nursing Award—both give their time and talent to the School and are members of NAO and the Badger Nurse Network.
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.
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.
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.
Nursing student upholds family tradition as fourth-generation Badger nurse
Following in the footsteps of her great-grandmother, grandmother and aunt, Emily Hanna is the fourth in her family to take part in UW–Madison’s nursing program. The program has seen some serious changes in that time.