School of Nursing celebrates commencement
December 19, 2018
The University of Minnesota School of Nursing celebrated the graduation of 63 Master of Nursing, 17 Doctor of Nursing Practice and four PhD students at a commencement ceremony Friday, Dec. 14 at Northrop.
Kevin Lee Smith, DNP, FNP, FAANP, a graduate of the school’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program, gave the commencement address. Smith has been at the vanguard of developing disruptive innovations focused on improving access and quality of health care for patients and helped to develop QuickMedx, which became MinuteClinic, the first and largest retail clinic operator in the country.
Smith told the graduates that they are entering an era where patients expect that technology will be used to provide convenience. “We need nursing to help shape the future to ensure that technology is helping to provide meaningful connections with our patients,” said Smith.
Deborah Jarvis, BSc, provided remarks on behalf of Master in Nursing students, and Robin Austin, DNP, DC, RN, provided remarks on behalf of doctoral students.
Dean Connie White Delaney, PhD, RN, FAAN, FACMI, FNAP, conferred the degrees to graduates. “You leave us today to embark on a career of nursing research, of scholarly advancement and of health systems improvement that can have unprecedented impact,” said Delaney. “You are our next faculty, our next deans. You have the potential to solve the pressing issues facing us today, as well as those we have yet to even consider.”
Jean Carraher, DNP, RN, president-elect of the School of Nursing Alumni Society, welcomed the school’s newest members to the school’s alumni community. “As our newest graduates, you represent both the future of nursing and the School of Nursing’s legacy,” said Carraher.