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  3. DNP Profile

DNP Profile

From Battlefield to Clinic: Brenda Coupar’s Path from Combat Lifesaver to DNP

Posted on November 4, 2025

Brenda Coupar ’09, DNP’18, knows the true meaning of service. “I didn’t choose nursing. Nursing chose me,” she says.

Posted in Alumni Profile, DNP Profile, DNP Program, News, TBSN programTagged Brenda Coupar, military, Veterans Day

Meet Rachel Stanek: CTEN Clinical Assistant Professor

Posted on September 29, 2025

Two-time Badger Rachel Stanek shares her journey from BSN student to assistant professor.

Posted in Alumni, Alumni Profile, Clinical & Teaching, DNP Profile, DNP Program, Faculty & Staff Profile, News, TBSN programTagged Alumni, DNP program, faculty, Rachel Stanek, TBSN

Small Victories: Bringing Compassionate Care to Disadvantaged Populations

Posted on September 15, 2025

Matt Meskan, DNP’25, RN, CCHP, brings a passion for practical, patient-centered care to his work as a registered nurse and certified correctional health professional.

Posted in Alumni, DNP Profile, DNP Program, ForwardNursing, NewsTagged Belize immersion program, DNP program, ForwardNursing, global health, Matt Meskan

Q&A with Eric Ido-Bruce, DNP Population Health Student

Posted on June 23, 2025

Eric Ido-Bruce is using his DNP program to advocate for patients, develop health literacy, and work for planetary health.

Posted in DNP Profile, DNP Program, News, Student ProfileTagged DNP program, Eric Ido-Bruce, planetary health, Systems Leadership and Innovation

The Local to Global Ripple Effects of Planetary Health

Posted on June 9, 2025

Ashley Smith, MSN, RN, PHN, DNPx26, is using the DNP in Population Health program to create positive change for her community and the planet.

Posted in DNP Profile, DNP Program, News, Student ProfileTagged Ashley Smith, DNP program, planetary health, population health

Beyond the Bedside

Posted on October 15, 2024

Joshua Ernst ’14, DNP’24, is impacting nursing through innovative leadership.

Posted in Alumni, Alumni Profile, DNP Profile, DNP Program, NewsTagged DNP program, Joshua Ernst, Systems Leadership and Innovation

Nursing Without Constraints

Posted on September 16, 2024

Kelly Ayala DNP’18, uses her passion for innovation to improve the health care landscape for both patients and providers.

Posted in Alumni, Alumni Profile, DNP Profile, DNP Program, ForwardNursing, NewsTagged DNP program, ForwardNursing, Kelly Ayala

Andrew O’Donnell ’11, DNP’14

Posted on July 7, 2021

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.

Posted in Alumni, Alumni Profile, DNP ProfileTagged COVID-19, DNP program

Rural Placements for Nursing Students Help Address Rural Health-care Shortage

Posted on July 29, 2019

A partnership between the Monroe Clinic-SSM Health and the UW–Madison School of Nursing provides DNP students opportunities to engage in rural practice, and many return to it.

Posted in Community Partnerships, DNP Profile, ForwardNursing, NewsTagged health care disparities, Pam McGranahan, preceptorships, rural engagement, Wisconsin Idea

A Heart and Mind for Home Health

Posted on January 27, 2017

DNP student Troy Lawrence has a favorite clinical setting. The kitchen table. Lawrence believes home health is a better alternative to clinic-based care for many older-adult patients. Plus, it captures the essence of nursing—of meeting patients where they are—in both the literal and figurative sense.

Posted in DNP Profile, ForwardNursing, News, Student ProfileTagged aging, aging in place, home health
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