Where are they now? Alumni Feature: Sophia LaSala ’24

Sophia stands with a microphone, reading a note to her classmates and guests during the Class of 2024's White Coat Ceremony.
During the 2022 TBSN White Coat Ceremony, Sophia LaSala read aloud the celebratory note she received from the donor who gifted her a white coat.

By Jemma Lipman

Nurses make an immense impact from the moment someone comes into this world. They are the first people a newborn life meets, and their influence never wavers. From putting in IVs to detailed surgery, nurses change lives. For Badger nursing alum Sophia LaSala ’24, this ability to leave a lasting impact was her calling. “I always knew I wanted to help people. I just didn’t know how I specifically wanted to do so.” Growing up, she gained more clarity.

Born and raised in Morristown, New Jersey, nursing was a large part of LaSala’s upbringing. The youngest of three girls (one of whom is a nurse), her sister cared for her and other members of their family. By witnessing multiple individuals provide care and her sister’s role as a nurse inspired her to seek opportunities to help others. She became fascinated with the science behind nursing and the ability to support people. However, the main inspiration for LaSala’s passion for nursing came from suddenly losing her father at 13. The tragedy motivated her to help people during their hardship as people did for her, making nursing an innate choice.

Going into nursing school, LaSala had one thing on her mind: pediatric nursing. She felt a deep connection to pediatrics and eagerly anticipated her nursing school rotation in this field. When she finally got her pediatrics rotation, she enjoyed every minute of it. Learning how to connect with children and families was invaluable, and this clinical experience reinforced her desire to pursue a career in pediatrics.

She was exposed to different clinical settings that unexpectedly broadened her horizons. Her rotation assignments in medical surgery and the float pool expanded her knowledge of care systems. These experiences exposed her to diverse patient populations and conditions, allowing her to discover a new side of nursing. “I think seeing that opened my mind to other opportunities and what I could learn in other realms of care. And although I was still so passionate about peds, I let myself be more open-minded to where I could learn elsewhere.”

Sophia LaSala wears her graduation regalia and poses with her University of Wisconsin–Madison degree.
Sophia LaSala, Class of 2024

LaSala’s journey throughout nursing school was nothing short of remarkable. The knowledge gained, the real-world experience practiced, and the connections fostered are all unique to UW–Madison’s nursing program. She shares that her connections with friends and faculty were exceptional and helped her navigate every difficult time. Being a nursing student is challenging and requires effort from both the individual and those around them. “My support system there was everything. They really helped me get through nursing school and just made it a positive experience in general. Whether we were studying together or just supporting each other outside of nursing school, they were just the best.”

In between classes, LaSala and her classmates soaked up every moment in spaces like Curran Commons, the atrium, and other spaces in Signe Skott Cooper Hall, leaning on one another and uplifting each other. They shared laughs, alleviated stress, and bonded over the differences they were about to make in the world. Despite everyone choosing different paths, LaSala felt how incredible and vital these connections were to her success.

LaSala graduated as a Badger nurse in 2024 with honors. She now works in the emergency department at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. The UW–Madison School of Nursing flawlessly prepared her for this new and exciting chapter in a young nurse’s life. “I’m very appreciative of what I am learning as a nurse because I know it will hopefully contribute to  my career one day.”