News & Events

Baltimore, Md. - The University of Maryland School of Nursing has named Gerrin Davis, DNP, MBA, CNE, CRNP, assistant professor, the director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Post-Master’s option. As the director of the DNP Post-Master’s option, Davis will work in conjunction with the associate dean for and senior director of the DNP program to lead the administrative and academic aspects of the option, with an emphasis on curricular leadership and faculty guidance to ensure that all standards related to the program are maintained. “Dr. Davis’ commitment to both academic rigor and compassionate care makes her a well-rounded leader in the nursing profession, and we look forward to her leadership in advancing the Post-Master’s DNP option,” said Shannon Idzik, DNP ’10, MS’03, ANP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, professor and associate dean for the DNP program. Davis brings more than seven years of teaching experience in undergraduate and doctoral programs to the position. She is committed to shaping the next generation of nurses by blending clinical expertise with academic instruction and emphasizing a patient-centered approach that bridges theory with hands-on application. A skilled family nurse practitioner, Davis practices clinically at a local federally qualified health care center and has more than a decade of experience in family medicine, infectious disease, and urgent care. Her research centers on infectious diseases and the integration of artificial intelligence into nursing education, aiming to improve patient outcomes through innovation. Since 2021, Davis has been a Certified Nurse Educator through the National League for Nursing. She serves as the health policy expert for the Health Law Section of the American Bar Association and received a Conway Scholarship from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, a recognition of her academic excellence, leadership, and dedication to nursing. In 2023, she was selected as a Fellow in UMSON’s Nurse Leadership Institute. Davis earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Northeastern University in Boston; her Master of Science in Nursing from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.; and her DNP from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in Baltimore. She further broadened her expertise with an MBA from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business.   ### 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 Bridgitte Gourley, DNP ’08, FNP-BC, FACU, associate professor; director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) specialty; and co-director of the University of Maryland, Baltimore Center for Interprofessional Education, has been inducted as an inaugural fellow of the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU). The ACU is a multidisciplinary organization that strives to establish a robust and diverse workforce to help transform communities to achieve health equity for all. Its mission is to lead advocacy, clinical, operational, and equity excellence to develop and support clinicians and the health care workforce caring for America’s underserved communities. “What I really love about ACU is its enduring focus on health care equity and justice for patients who have been marginalized and its support of the team of professionals that make the care happen every day in communities of need,” Gourley said. “As clinicians we can sometimes forget that it’s not just about what happens in the exam room; there are so many people who help make that visit possible.” The ACU Fellowship was established  to honor individuals who specialize in community-based care for underserved populations. It recognizes those who demonstrate dedication to addressing barriers to health care access, a deep understanding of systemic inequities, and active engagement with the ACU’s mission and community. Gourley’s dedication to caring for underserved populations began over two decades ago when she became a National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholar. The NHSC, part of the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration, supports training for primary health care providers through scholarships and loan repayment programs. NHSC Scholars receive support for tuition, fees, and stipends to cover educational and living expenses in exchange for a commitment to providing primary care health services in Health Professional Shortage Areas. Gourley fulfilled her service obligation in her role as an FNP clinical faculty member on UMSON’s Governor’s Wellmobile in partnership with Choptank Community Health System and continued her work with underserved populations through various UMSON professional service agreements through 2013. Since 2013, Gourley has provided care at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC)/Luminis Health Community Clinics, serving uninsured and underserved patients, including at Arundel Lodge, a psychiatric rehabilitation program serving individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. Gourley provides primary care as part of an interprofessional team of psychiatric providers, counselors, and nurses in a Behavioral Health Home Model.  In addition to her work with AAMC Community Clinics, Gourley has been conducting physical exams and developmental screenings with nurse practitioner students through a grant-funded initiative at Head Start centers statewide. ACU was founded by several NHSC Scholar alumni to provide resources, support, and advocacy for the underserved and the clinicians and staff in health centers. ACU Fellows are selected based on their commitment to caring for marginalized populations, their insight into the social and systemic factors that disrupt health care access, and their active contributions to ACU’s initiatives.  Gourley joined UMSON in 2000 as a clinical instructor after earning a Master of Science in Nursing with an FNP specialization from the Johns Hopkins University. She also earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in Community Health from Johns Hopkins. In 2006, she became a member of the first class of the newly launched DNP program at UMSON, and upon completion of her doctoral degree in 2008, she was promoted to assistant professor. A year later, she began serving as the FNP specialty director. ### 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. - 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.” # # # 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.