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Baltimore, Md. - One year ago this month, LyAvia Patterson, BSN ’24, was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer.  It was a shock for the then 40-year-old mother of two, especially as she was deeply engaged in completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), something she’d quit her job to do.  Finding out there was a mass in her colon, and that the cancer had spread to her liver, was shocking. But for Patterson, there was only one path forward.  “I've been pushing through — just persevering. It’s all I can do. I have children, I have a husband, I have family that I have to live for,” she said, later adding, “I don’t want sympathy. I want people to recognize that there are going to be challenges in life, you know? There will be adversity that you have to get through, that you just have to push. You have to push through for your goals, for your family, for your own self.” This week, Patterson celebrated her success at pushing through as she strode across the stage of the Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, officially a graduate of the BSN program.  On Dec. 18, more than 250 graduates and their family and friends celebrated success during UMSON’s Graduation ceremony, during which 194 BSN degrees, 59 master’s degrees, three Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees, four Doctor of Philosophy degrees, and four certificates were conferred. Just shy of 200 entry-into-nursing students graduated, ready to enter the workforce. “We offer our very sincere congratulations to those of you who are receiving your first degree in nursing. You will begin your career at a time when nursing presents unparalleled possibilities,” said Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD ’11, MS ’05, BSN ’04, NNP, FNAP, FAAN, The Bill and Joanne Conway Dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing. “No other profession offers such a diverse range of career paths and opportunities for professional development. Moreover, very few professions afford you the privilege of having a significant impact on the lives of individuals, families, and communities. On behalf of the School of Nursing, I hope you will be as happy and as fulfilled in your nursing career as I have been for the past 37 years.”    During the ceremony, Renz Mae Carbo, BSN graduate, and Brandi Nicole Ridenour, Master of Science in Nursing Clinical Nurse Leader graduate, received the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students. DAISY awards are given each fall and spring to two graduating entry-into-nursing students who demonstrate outstanding compassion and care to patients and their families. Kristin Bussell, PhD ’19, MS ’98, BSN ’84, CRPN-PMH, assistant professor, received the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty, which is given to nursing faculty in recognition of their commitment to education and for their inspirational influence on students.  Marc Salmo Llacuna, BSN ’24, gave the student remarks during Wednesday’s ceremony. He highlighted the unique path he took to get to nursing school, including a degree in engineering and more than a decade of U.S. military service. But after his time in the Army, Llacuna said he didn’t know what his purpose in life was anymore.  Nursing changed that. “You see, nursing is not only a profession, it is a commitment to compassion, to healing and to patient advocacy, and that’s why I’m so honored to stand in front of all of these brave men and women who have decided to join me on the front lines of health care and fight against disease and suffering,” he said in his address.  “I used the word brave because remember three to five years ago, everyone here began their journey, and three to five years ago, we were at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and droves of health care workers were leaving the field because they were worried about their health and well-being. They were overworked. But everybody in front of you stood up, rose their hand and said, ‘Take me. I'm ready to serve the American people.’ So, thank you. Thank you for your commitment. If that’s not brave, then I don’t know what brave is.” That theme of bravery, perseverance, and pushing through — especially when life gets hard — underscored the entire ceremony, including during the keynote address from Capt. Aisha K. Brooks, DNP, MPH, RN, FADLN, FAAN.  Brooks, a senior health policy administrator in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement Health Service Corps, has spent nearly three decades as a nurse. But it wasn’t easy getting there.  “I became a mother in high school at the age of 15, and with all the knowledge skills maturity of a 15-year-old, I became a mom again at the age of 16,” she said during her speech. “So, you can imagine that there were a number of people who did not believe that my life would amount to much. There were many people who created obstacles for me academically because they were certain that I did not have what it took to complete my education. What held me down, though, is not only a supportive family, but a sense of self and the fortitude to believe that my circumstances absolutely did not define who I was at that moment, nor who I would become.” For Patterson, if it weren’t for her diagnosis and this experience, she would not have known what area of nursing she wanted to go into.  Now, she’s sure.  “I knew I wanted to go back to school to be a nurse practitioner and treat patients in the outpatient setting, but after school, I didn’t have an idea of what I want to do,” Patterson said. “It’s the silver lining that I figured out what I wanted to do — I want to focus on oncology. That’s the specialty that I would like to go into.” She now has a deeper appreciation for what oncology patients are dealing with because of her own experience, Patterson said. She can empathize because she has been there herself.  “It’s going to really change how I treat my patients,” she said, adding, “I just want to be that person that they can rely on, be that person they can talk to, be that person that is going to advocate for them.” photo: LyAvia Patterson, BSN '24, waves to the audience as she crosses the stage in front of Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD '11, MS '05, BSN '05, NNP, FNAP, FAAN, immediately to Patterson's left. Patterson's husband, her invited pinner, is pictured at right. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing’s Hannah Murphy Buc, PhD, RN, assistant professor, Bachelor of Science in Nursing program co-director, and director of Restorative Justice (RJ), has been awarded the Maryland Nurses Association’s (MNA) Outstanding Pathfinder Award for her work in restorative justice. She also has been named one of 30 recipients of the 2025 Emerging Leader Award by the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation (HPNF). MNA’s Outstanding Pathfinder Award is presented to an MNA member who has demonstrated excellence and creative leadership that fosters the development of the nursing profession. Award recipients have been pioneers in nursing innovation or have developed creative approaches to further nursing’s agenda.  Murphy Buc was nominated for the Pathfinder Award by Veronica Gutchell, DNP ’13, RN, CNS, CRNP, assistant professor; chair of the Department of Partnerships, Professional Education, and Practice; and director of the Governor’s Wellmobile Program. “This individual has devoted her nursing career to issues of health equity, diversity, and inclusion,” Gutchell wrote in her nomination. “Her nursing career has spanned working on social justice for those unhoused, experiencing poverty, as well as those in the prison justice system. In academia, as an expert in palliative care, she developed a palliative care nursing curriculum for vulnerable populations.” Murphy Buc’s more recent efforts have focused on bringing the principles of restorative justice — relationship building, respect for all, responsibility for one’s actions, and repair of harms — to UMSON, Gutchell wrote. “She began by participating in RJ facilitator training in 2020 with several faculty and staff colleagues and immediately organized community-building circles and restorative conversations,” the nomination read. Community-building circles take place in diverse settings such as student classrooms, faculty and staff development programs, and department meetings to create an inclusive, welcoming working environment. Restorative conversations address interpersonal conflict or social concerns through compassionate communication that is curious and collaborative. Murphy Buc has trained RJ facilitators at UMSON, Gutchell continued; while faculty and staff facilitators have been offering RJ services at UMSON since 2020, a first cohort of 12 faculty and staff facilitators completed a facilitator training curriculum this past August that Murphy Buc created. This has increased the School’s capacity to resolve harms by building facilitator skills in RJ harm circles, which seek to repair relationships. RJ harm circles address the needs of the individual and provide the person who did the harm the opportunity to take responsibility for their actions.  A 2023 - 24 Gold Humanism Scholar, Murphy Buc received funding to develop a student RJ leadership program, which she implemented at UMSON this fall. HPNF 2025 Emerging Leader Award Recipients of the 2025 Emerging Leader Award are exceptional hospice and palliative care nurses who represent the future of the field, having demonstrated remarkable leadership, innovation, and dedication early in their careers.  Joan Carpenter, PhD, CRNP, ACHPN, FPCN, assistant professor, nominated Murphy Buc for the prestigious honor, explaining the ways in which Murphy Buc has demonstrated significant leadership in palliative care nursing over the past five years.  “She completed her PhD in 2023, which focused on highlighting the experiences of people with serious illness experiencing homelessness — a population frequently underserved by hospice and palliative care agencies,” Carpenter wrote. “Her important research was supported by a competitive grant from the Maryland Higher Education Commission, enabling her to contribute this much needed research to the field. “In January 2023, Murphy Buc helped launch a required undergraduate primary palliative care course at UMSON, shaping the curriculum, teaching the content, and advising students. She is now leading the faculty in the design and conduct of a longitudinal study examining the effectiveness of introducing palliative competencies early in nurses’ education.” Murphy Buc is also a member UMSON’s Serious Illness Scholars scholarship group, assisting PhD students and faculty colleagues with their scholarly endeavors. “Her leadership in research, education, and mentorship is critical to the future of palliative nursing,” Carpenter stated. As HPNF Emerging Leaders, recipients receive an annual Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association membership, a personalized plaque and pin, and special recognition during a dedicated virtual celebration showcasing their achievements and highlighting the bright future they bring to hospice and palliative nursing care. Murphy Buc joined UMSON in 2018 and initially served as a course coordinator in the BSN program. She earned a Master of Science in Nursing as an adult health clinical nurse specialist (with a palliative care specialty) and a post-master’s Certificate in Nursing Education from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Clayton State University in Georgia and a Bachelor of Arts in Integrative Studies from Guilford College in North Carolina. Murphy Buc also holds a Trainer Certification from the End-of-life Nursing Education Consortium. ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON)’s Susan L. Bindon, DNP ’11, MS ’96, RN, NPD-BC, CNE, FAAN, ANEF, associate professor; associate dean for faculty development; director of the Institute for Educators; and director of the Teaching in Nursing and Health Professions Certificate, has been inducted as a prestigious National League for Nursing (NLN) Academy of Nursing Education Fellow.  Bindon and 26 other distinguished educators were recognized at the NLN Education Summit in San Antonio. The NLN Academy of Nursing Education recognizes leaders in nursing education who contribute to advancing excellence in teaching, research, faculty development, academic leadership, and community partnerships. “Being inducted as a fellow in the Academy of Nursing Education is a special honor,” Bindon said. “Throughout my career, I’ve been privileged to learn from incredible teachers, mentors, and colleagues in academic and practice settings. My professional goals are to support and develop nurse educators and to advance teaching excellence in nursing education at both local and national levels. This recognition is deeply meaningful, and I am grateful to those who have supported me along the way.” Bindon joined UMSON as an assistant professor in the Institute for Educators in 2011 and was promoted to associate professor in 2019. Prior to becoming the inaugural associate dean for faculty development in 2021, she served as director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Post-Master’s option, overseeing the core DNP curriculum and providing support to DNP students and faculty.  As director of UMSON’s Institute for Educators, Bindon bridges academic and clinical education, drawing from her own faculty practice in nursing professional development at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Her work supports the dual mission of the institute: to prepare future nurse educators throughout the state while offering ongoing education and professional development for UMSON’s own faculty and other educators. Her hallmark is utilizing a variety of creative approaches to design and deliver education. Bindon is also the director of UMSON’s graduate Teaching in Nursing and Health Professions Certificate, which prepares nurses for educator roles, ensuring they have the knowledge and skills to work effectively in academic and practice settings, whether in person or online. She also spearheaded the implementation of a new faculty residence program for new and novice UMSON faculty.  Bindon has received multiple grant awards through the Nurse Support Program II, funded by the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission and administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, focused on preparing and developing clinical nursing faculty across the state. Products of these grants have become components of essential faculty development statewide, including workshops that utilize standardized students (professional actors who portray students) to provide simulated experiences for faculty to practice their skills in guiding student learning in a safe environment.  Bindon’s work addresses ongoing nursing workforce challenges locally, statewide, and nationally; the necessity of increasing enrollments in schools of nursing requires expanding the number of nurse educators well prepared to teach and mentor the next generation of nurses in the classroom and in clinical settings. Bindon has worked to elevate nursing education as a practice specialty in both academic and professional practice settings and has focused on mentoring faculty to improve teaching, with a focus on effective teaching to meet the needs of today’s learners. Bindon has held national leadership positions as past president of the Association for Nursing Professional Development and co-editor of the Journal for Nurses in Professional Development. Academy of Nursing Education Fellows are selected through a rigorous application process, with the NLN Academy of Nursing Education Review Panel recommending candidates to the NLN Board of Governors. Selection criteria include contributions to innovative teaching strategies, nursing education research, public policy initiatives, and collaboration across educational and practice settings.  “Fellows proudly serve as mentors and resources for new educators and those in clinical practice who aspire to someday join the ranks of nurse faculty. We are delighted to honor the wisdom, experience and enthusiasm of the Class of 2024 and all the academy fellows who came before them,” said NLN President and CEO Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN. UMSON alumnus Stephan Davis, DNP, MHSA, BSN ’07, NEA-BC, CENP, CNE, CPHQ, CDE, FACHE, FNAP, FHFMA, FAAN, ANEF, joins Bindon in the new class of fellows. ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.