11.1 

Post-doctoral fellow Crystal Chu (BSN ’15, PhD ’23)—who creates, deploys, and tests decision aids for women at risk for or facing breast cancer—earned the Society for Medical Decision Making's (SMDM) "Young Scholar Award" for 2024 at the group's annual meeting in Boston, Ma. Chu is an American Cancer Society grantee alumna.

11.23 

Several UVA School of Nursing faculty members were celebrated at the Virginia Nurses Association's (VNA) annual gala in Richmond, including Melissa Gomes (CERTI-PMHNP ’12), associate dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion, who won the 2024 VNF Nurse Researcher Award, and assistant professor Crystal Toll, who earned a 2024 VNF “Trailblazer” Leadership Excellence Nurse Educator Award. 

On hand to administer the awards was Dean Marianne Baernholdt and UVA Health University Medical Center chief nursing officer Kathy Baker, the School's associate dean for clinical affairs and incoming Virginia Nurses Association president. Clinical instructor Mesha Jones, a UVA Health nurse manager, also officially began her term as the Virginia Nurses Foundation's president.

1.6 

Betty Norman Norris Professor of Nursing Kimberly D. Acquaviva’s HANDBOOK OF LGTQIA-INCLUSIVE HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE (Columbia University Press, 2023) earned the American Journal of Nursing's top spot in the category of palliative and hospice care. Acquaviva was also featured in the book, Badass Women of Charlottesville: Inspiring Stories of Powerful Women Changing the World, Starting in the City of Charlottesville, by Rachael Kesler Palm. 

1.9 

UVA Health unveiled its new mobile care unit, part of a nearly $350,000 federal grant to expand healthcare services to patients facing barriers at traditional healthcare facilities. The van—which includes a private exam room and consultation space—visits the Southwood and Fifeville neighborhoods twice each week and is staffed by clinicians including assistant professor Amy Boitnott (DNP ’08), associate dean Randy Jones (BSN ’00, MSN ’02, PhD ’05), clinical instructor Jennifer Gaines, and associate professor Malinda Whitlow (BSN ’07, MSN ’11, DNP ’13), among others, who also use it as a teaching space for undergraduate and graduate nursing students.

The van offers general check-ups, chronic disease management, pediatric care, including sports physicals, care for minor illness and injuries, women’s health, and rapid lab testing.

1.10 

 Thousands gathered for the Society for Simulation in Healthcare's International Meeting in Florida, including UVA Simulation Collaborative director Ryne Ackard, assistant professor, and many of his staff, including clinical simulation educator Samantha Hudgins (BSN ’13), clinical simulation instructor James Nisley, and clinical instructor Tanya Thomas (BSN ’05, MSN-CNS ’19, DNP ’20), who, across seven presentations, showcased their work in UVA’s INACSL-endorsed Mary Morton Parsons Simulation Learning Center.

1.14 

At a ribbon cutting ceremony at UVA Northern Virginia, UVA’s 55,000-square-foot campus in Fairfax, Dean Marianne Baernholdt joined RN to BSN students and faculty on the first day of class to celebrate the cohort’s new academic home on UVA’s first-ever satellite campus.

1.23 

Post-doctoral research fellow Mina Ostovari, who works with Kluge-Schakat Professor of Compassionate Care Professor Virginia LeBaron (BSN ’96) on her NIH-funded grant focused on the management of cancer pain through the use of home-based patient monitoring systems, earned the Bhakta Rath Public Service Research Award, given annually for excellence that anticipates the future needs of the nation.

3.14 

A joint meeting of the Agnes Dillon Randolph International Nursing History and the Southern Association for the History of Medicine and Science Conferences gathered more than 50 attendees across three days of learning, and was organized by Dominque Tobbell, Bjoring Center director and the Centennial Distinguished Professor of Nursing, archivist Hal Sharp, and Center manager Maura Singleton. 

4.4 

Assistant professor Ashley Apple (BSN ’18, MSN ’20, DNP ’21) and professor Acquaviva offered the VCU School of Nursing Bresenoff-Feierstein Innovation Lecture, part of a forum that also included former Del. Dawn Adams (MSN ’89) and VCU nursing dean Patricia Kinser (PhD ’12). In late May at the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners’ annual conference, Apple was honored with the NP Advocate Award for her work as the Virginia Nurses Association’s two-term commissioner on government relations.  

4.9 

While attending the AACN Doctoral Education Conference in Washington, D.C., U.S. Air Force Capt. Sarah Beth Long and Maureen DeSena (DNP ’25), both DNP students, met up with Dean Baernholdt on Capitol Hill and visited U.S. Senator Tim Kaine’s office.

4.24 

At a UVA Equity Center event, Malinda Whitlow (BSN ’07, MSN ’11, DNP, ’13), associate professor and undergraduate program lead, earned the Armstead L. Robinson Faculty Award alongside veteran staff member Diane Washington, who has supported three School of Nursing deans and is executive assistant for School initiatives and support, who earned the Lincoln Lewis Staff Recognition Award.  

4.29 

More than 150 people attended two screenings of the short film “Dottie,” about dementia, and lingered for a talk led by professor Ishan Williams—who was honored with the Southern Gerontological Society’s GRITS Award, the group’s highest honor, in mid-April—and other dementia experts. The events were part of the Haney Conference for Compassionate End-of-Life Care and the School’s Compassionate Care Initiative. 

4.30 

Randy Jones (BSN ’00, MSN ’02, PhD ’05), associate dean for partner development and engagement, earned the 2025 UVA Award for Excellence in Public Service and was celebrated by President Jim Ryan and colleagues at a Rotunda Dome Room ceremony.

5.6 

In honor of National Nurses Week, nearly 90 people gathered at the School to watch “American Delivery: Solving the Maternal Mortality Crisis in U.S. Healthcare” and listen to an expert panel led by professor emerita Pamela Cipriano, International Council of Nurses’ president, Emily Evans (PhD ’14), assistant professor, Birth Sisters of Charlottesville co-founder and doula Doreen Bonnet, and UVA Health clinician-leaders including Karin Skeen (PhD ’22), associate chief nursing officer.

5.13 

Melissa Gomes (CERTI-PMHNP ’12), associate dean for strategic wellness and opportunity and an associate professor, earned the 2025 Penn Nursing Social Justice and Health Equity Alumni Award from alma mater University of Pennsylvania.

5.18 

On the North steps of the Rotunda, the School awarded degrees to 269 members of the School of Nursing’s class of 2025, including 145 brand new nurses.