Nursing Trailblazer Barbara L. Nichols Selected as Inaugural Recipient of the UW–Madison School of Nursing Canary Savage Girardeau Award for Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

The University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing is pleased to announce the recipient of the inaugural Canary Savage Girardeau Award for Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Barbara L. Nichols, MS, DL(h), SDc(h), PedD(h), RN, FAAN, has been selected as the inaugural recipient of the School of Nursing’s new award.

Bucky and Monty visit B6/6 to celebrate milestone in MOVIN

This June, Bucky Badger and the Ice Age Trail Alliance mascot, Monty the Mammoth, visited the Hematology, Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplant unit at University Hospital (B6/6) in celebration of completing the MOVIN Ice Age Trail Challenge and the great work patients and staff have done to reach the goals and improve the amount of time and distances patients walk on the unit.

Serving the Needs of a Growing and Diversifying Wisconsin

When the UW–Madison School of Nursing first opened its doors to students in 1924, it made history as the first collegiate nursing program in the state. Now, almost 100 years later, the School of Nursing is positioned, once again, to be at the forefront of nursing in Wisconsin as it tackles racial disparities in the profession. In the last few years, faced with dual pandemics of COVID-19 and racial inequality, the School of Nursing made several determinations about necessary steps for the future. Chief of which was addressing a long-established and immediate need to make greater strides in diversifying the nursing profession. 

Building a Legacy

Becky Berkan ’03, RN, CEN, is no stranger to expanding her comfortable limits. After stepping away from participating in athletic activities for a decade, she decided to get back into a sport that she had always enjoyed – running. She set out to train for the Madison Marathon in 2012, which would eventually get canceled due to extreme heat conditions. Rather than shrug her shoulders and call it a day, Berkan persisted with her training and eventually ran the Marine Corps Marathon in 2013.