A serendipitous reunion!

Pat (Morris) McDonald (DIPLO ’49), left, and Diane Holmes (Walker) Fletcher (BSN ’58) of Charlottesville, VA, recently met when Diane moved into the same retirement community where Pat had been living for five years. Their connection was instant, sparked by fond memories of their time at the UVA School of Nursing.

Pat spent her early nursing career at the UVA Hospital. Diane worked for the Virginia Health Department, where she designed a statewide sexual health educational program for high school students. In retirement, Diane volunteered for and later serving as interim executive director of the Gloucester Mathews Care Clinic. Both women reported that they served as "life-long" nurses for their families—each raising five children—and are heartened by the friendship they’ve found in one another.

Fellow BSN graduates Raniyah Majied (BSN ’22), of Irvine, CA, and Carrie Walker (BSN ’25), who just moved to Southern California, recently met up through senior assistant dean for student success Theresa Carroll's (TC’s) alumni list to talk shop about the NCLEX, California licensing exams, being newlyweds (both married their husbands last winter), and bringing “supportive UVA energy to SoCal.”

Raniyah works full-time as an ICU nurse at Providence Healthcare, with per diem shifts in outpatient vascular surgery, but will return to Virginia in early 2026 to begin her studies at VCU as part of their Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist program. Walker, a successful social media content creator whose Pentel of America sponsorship earlier this spring birthed a Carrie Walker “Feeling Grounded” journaling pack, plans to become a labor and delivery nurse. 

 Heather E. Norman (MSN-CNL ’08) of Cary, NC, chief nursing officer at Wellpath, was recently named one of The Top 50 Women Chief Nursing Officers of 2025 by Women We Admire, a platform that recognizes the achievements of female leaders across various industries in the United States and Canada. Heather oversees nursing services at more than 330 facilities across 37 states, bringing over 20 years of healthcare leadership experience, including her early service as a U.S. Army combat medic.

A president of the American Correctional Nurses Association, she is currently collaborating with the American Nurses Association to update the Scope and Standards of Practice for Correctional Nursing. Her work focuses on improving care for incarcerated patients, addressing social determinants of health, and advocating for nurses and vulnerable populations. She is a frequent presenter and published researcher, passionate about using her voice to elevate those who are often unheard.

Chibueze Nwaiwu (BSN ’13) of Providence, RI, completed his residency as a physician in general surgery at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, distinguishing himself through clinical excellence and exceptional leadership, mentorship, teaching, and research in surgical innovation and health disparities.

A highly regarded educator, and thanks to nominations from medical students, he has earned the Dean’s Excellence in Teaching Award twice and the Positive Champion of the Learning Environment Award three times, and was one of only five recipients of the prestigious Haffenreffer Family House Staff Excellence Award at Rhode Island Hospital/Brown University Health in 2025.

Chibueze’s work and volunteerism has spanned North America, Africa, Europe, and Western Asia, leading to multiple presentations at local, regional, national, and international conferences and multiple awards. After completing his residency, he began in June 2025 a one-year Minimally Invasive Surgery/Bariatrics/Foregut Fellowship at Stanford University and plans to pursue a career as a minimally invasive surgeon at an academic institution where he will continue his research in surgical innovation and health disparities, and remain committed to teaching the next generation of clinicians and leaders in medicine.

Jane Muir (BSN ’15, PhD ’21, MSN-FNP ’22), of Chantilly, VA, an assistant professor at University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and Medicine, earned the 2025 Nurse Researcher Award from the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA). Jane will be honored at the ENA’s annual conference in New Orleans in September 2025 and credits UVA nursing faculty and clinicians as pivotal to her work. Her research focuses on improving emergency care and supporting the well-being of emergency nurses nationwide.

Leeza Constantoulakis (PhD ’19), of Durham, NC, has joined Drive Health as chief nursing officer. In this role, she brings her deep expertise to support the company’s mission of building healthier communities through innovative, technology-driven solutions.

Allyson Pennington (BSN ’19, MSN ’24, DNP ’25), of Charlottesville, VA, a family nurse practitioner, has officially launched the Wellness & Aesthetics Clinic in partnership with Charlottesville Plastic Surgery, where she serves as director. She sees patients for weight loss support, hydration and IV therapy, and aesthetic injections.

Raven Curtis (BSN ’24), of Charlottesville, VA, a paramedic with the Western Albemarle Rescue Squad and a nurse at UVA Health, was recently honored with a DAISY Award for extraordinary nursing care.

“Raven’s skill, training, and quick thinking saved my husband’s life that day,” wrote the nominator. “But as his nurse, he did so much more than just keep my husband alive—he cared for him in every sense of the word. He treated not only his physical recovery but also his emotional and spiritual suffering. To be on the brink of death and come back—six times—is life-altering. And Raven was there for him through it all.”