News & Events

Baltimore, Md. –  For the second consecutive year, the University of Maryland School of Nursing’s (UMSON) Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Nursing Leadership and Management (NLM) specialty was ranked No. 1 in the nation among public schools of nursing in the Nursing Administration/Leadership category in U.S. News & World Report’s newly released “2025 Best Online Programs.” It was fifth among all schools of nursing. After being re-envisioned with an updated curriculum aligned with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s new Essentials, the specialty, previously called Health Services Leadership and Management, has been renamed NLM. The program offers leading-edge courses, personalized mentorship, and individual placements in a practicum that supports students’ career goals and takes them beyond their current place of employment to opportunities that refine advanced nursing leadership and nursing administration skills. Placements, which UMSON secures for its students, are with leaders at hospitals and health care systems, universities and community colleges, national and state agencies, and more. In 2024, UMSON ranked No. 1 among public nursing schools in this category and third among all schools of nursing. In 2023, ranked No. 2 among public nursing schools and was tied for fourth overall. This year, UMSON was also ranked by U.S. News for Best Online Program for Veterans at 26th overall nationwide. “We are thrilled to be recognized nationally for our MSN Nursing Leadership and Management specialty,” 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. “Our faculty are committed to supporting students’ career goals with great teaching, cutting-edge coursework, and personalized mentoring. We are extremely proud of our many graduates who go on to become health care system leaders, particularly at a time when nurse leadership is so vitally important.” The U.S. News rankings represent the most respected and in-depth evaluation of U.S. graduate programs that are designed to be administered online. UMSON is among the 198 schools ranked, out of 211 that provided enough data to participate in the survey. The magazine ranked UMSON’s overall online Master of Science in Nursing program among the top 81 schools. The publication’s rankings are based on indicators such as student and faculty engagement, faculty credentials and training, student services and technology, student excellence, and peer assessment, using data collected directly from each institution. Only degree-granting programs that are offered primarily online by regionally accredited institutions are considered, and the programs that score the highest are those applying educational best practices specific for distance learners. ### 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 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.