Student and alumni features
Graduate students at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing come from diverse professional backgrounds and are united in their passion to improve health and transform health care. Students conduct research, sharpen their leadership skills and implement system-improvement projects to address complex health-care issues within regional organizations. Alumni utilize their enhanced education and training to affect the interconnected health care challenges of quality, cost and access, as leaders in their workplaces and in their communities. Read the stories below for a sampling of the impact of the school's students and alumni.
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Second-year PhD student chooses UC Davis nursing school to advance research
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Personal experience propels student to improve mental health for other Californians
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Leaning into research to give women a voice
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Changing health care for the better
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Not your traditional nursing school
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Making invisible populations seen through data
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A lifelong dream becomes an amazing reality
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A passion for women and children leads to global impact
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Achieving a goal, going beyond during pandemic
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Physician assistant alumnus credits UC Davis for opening doors to his career
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Realizing a career never thought possible before
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Family nurse practitioner sees beyond medical issues
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Investing in yourself yields improvements in nursing science
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Alumna says her UC Davis education grew her leadership, patient-relationship skills
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Critical-thinking education breeds confidence on the job
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Empowering education fosters thriving on the job
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Nursing graduate reunites with life-saving nurse
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Academic Symposium: Showcasing graduate research
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Confidence to connect the dots
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New nurse excels with UC Davis MEPN
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Nurse enjoys smooth transition to family nurse practitioner role
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Physician assistant graduate says school prepared him for ‘real deal’
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Alumna puts her education into practice
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From bedside nursing to research, alumnus advances career as health data scientist
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Physician assistant, nursing students respond to call for help
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New role provides alumna with new opportunities
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Alumna advances health in San Antonio
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Academic Symposium: Research on display
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Two alumnae share their journeys into advanced practice nursing
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Pursuing the ultimate in person-centered care
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Alumnus enriches his Central Valley community 
Sergio Camarillo, director for patient care services at a Modesto hospital, continues his education in his quest to improve community health. |
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Alumna builds lifeline for rural nurses 
Meet doctoral alumna Sheridan Miyamoto, who was awarded a $6 million federal grant to launch the Sexual Assault Forensic Examination and Training (SAFE-T) Center, a telehealth program to train rural nurses in assault exams. |
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Overcoming doubts, moving forward with life 
Andrea Vega-Breaux’s childhood experiences propelled her toward a career as a nurse. Her dream to advocate for improved health policy drove her to seek a master’s degree in leadership at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis. |
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PITCH-ing in to improve health care practice, understand the community 
Rarely do paths cross for UC Davis graduate students at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing and the School of Medicine. A new grassroots initiative attempts to change that. |
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California’s largest hospital provider fosters culture of inquiry 
As the roles for nurses increase amid the constantly changing state of health care, nurse-led research moves from the back burner to the forefront. Find out how two alumni from the School of Nursing's inaugural doctoral class guide California's largest hospital provider to chart a new course to improve care for people and care delivery for nurses. |
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Motivating past barriers, hoping to be the new norm 
Sandra Calderon’s drive to succeed started at a young age and gained support from unsuspected sources. Ambition directed her to the U.S. Army. A desire to provide primary care for others within her Hispanic community drove her to pursue a nurse practitioner master’s degree at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis and change the expectations of families she serves. |
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Innovative initiative targets oral health 
Failing to provide adequate preventive oral health care for millions of people, today the primary care system is in the midst of transformation bringing new opportunities for providers. So an interprofessional team of graduate students at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis developed a new approach to make oral health preventive care more accessible and combat a silent epidemic. |
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From Peru to UC Davis: A graduate student’s heart for the underserved 
Growing up in Lima, Peru, Yael Saavedra recognized her passion to care for the underserved and her drive to achieve a rewarding profession within the health-care community. It was not until she pursued a master’s degree in physician assistant studies at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis that her perspective on both her home country and her role in health care would change profoundly. |
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Delivering big ideas in primary care to small communities often forgotten 
Sara Marchessault moved from the east coast to Canby, a small, remote community in Northern California with a population of 317 and continued her career as a nurse practitioner. In hopes of enhancing her leadership skills to create change in the health-care system, Marchessault chose the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis to thrive in her profession and deliver better quality care to her community. |
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Nursing students improve veterans care with innovative dog kennel 
When nurses Emmanuel Besa, Michael Dion and Lori Jagoda enrolled in the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis, they never imagined that canines would play a role in their coursework aimed at improving human health. Focused on the collaborative vision of the nursing school and partnered with the surrounding community, these students in the Master of Science —Leadership Degree Program soon learned that the answer to a health-care problem plaguing veterans could be found in a container for four-pawed companions. |
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Veteran seeks new career creating healthy communities 
Christopher Morales-Phan wasn’t sure what to do with his life after high school, so he enlisted in the U.S. Army to “grow up and figure it out.” Serving as a medic for four and a half years, Morales-Phan worked with health-care professionals who made sure people who needed care received it, regardless of their environment or circumstance. He was especially inspired by the level of care provided by physician assistants and realized he’d found his life purpose. He now plans his future as a physician assistant providing community health care. |
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The science of caring: doctoral student uses data to prioritize, create processes for better health 
Rayne Soriano, nurse and doctoral student at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis, immerses himself in patient data — from fall rates to the number of hospital acquired infections — which he analyzes to improve quality through updated hospital procedures or staff and resource changes. He also educates nurse managers in the field of health informatics. |
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A graduate student’s battle with cancer shapes doctoral work 
While pursuing her doctoral degree at the School of Nursing, Robin Whitney learned she had cancer. From undergoing chemo to completing a half marathon, her experience shapes her perspective on health care. |
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2015 Academic Symposium showcases students' work 
From hospital readmission rates and simulation training to family planning for rural women and pediatric triage assessment, the scope of work undertaken by students at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis ranges from clinical to community and from birth to end of life. The 2015 Academic Symposium allows students to showcase their scholarly work and engage with the community. |
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Inaugural Class of Doctoral Students Graduates 
The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis awarded degrees to eight, inaugural doctoral students from the Nursing Science and Health-Care Leadership Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program in June 2014. From serving in academic arenas to providing care in local communities, these health-care leaders illustrate how their graduate studies prepared them to make a real difference in health care for all. |
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Health-policy executive returns to nursing roots at the UC Davis School of Nursing 
Leah Morris felt at a loss when her mother’s grave illness escalated. Although she was a nurse, she was unprepared as she and her father watched her mother slowly die. It was then that Morris, now an alumna of the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis, decided to refocus her career and serve as a hospice provider to guide chronically ill patients and their families through the stages of dying. |
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Doctoral student analyzes the impact of body temperature after traumatic brain injury 
Lori Kennedy Madden, a doctoral student at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis, received a prestigious fellowship from the National Institute of Nursing Research to hone her skills as a nurse scientist as she conducts doctoral research on traumatic brain injury. Madden, a member of the school’s inaugural class of doctoral students, is the first School of Nursing student to receive this competitive award. |
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Health promotion starts early: building health-care systems that are Baby Friendly 
Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis graduate student Maya Vasquez has a powerful drive to give all people an equal shot at a healthy life, starting from their earliest days and regardless of their socioeconomic status. |
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Doctoral student examines how mobile technology may enhance the value and quality of health care 
Emerging and new technologies, such as cell phones, social media and data management systems, could provide solutions to complex health-care issues. Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing doctoral student Katherine Kim discovers how such technology can improve the quality, safety and cost-effectiveness of health care. |
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Nurse explores technology to help older adults manage their health from home 
Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing graduate student and registered nurse Anita Depatie loves technology. So it was a natural step for her to combine that enthusiasm with her experience caring for older adults who are managing their health conditions while still living at home. |
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Pediatric nurse conducts research to help tackle childhood obesity 
As a pediatric nurse, Christy Solorio witnesses the effects of the obesity crisis among youth on a daily basis. Now, through her study in the Nursing Science and Health-Care Leadership Master’s Degree Program at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, Solorio conducts research that could help address some of the causes of the obesity epidemic. |
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School of Nursing alumni collaborate to promote high-quality cancer care 
Equipped with enhanced leadership skills and education regarding system-level challenges in health care, the first graduates of the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing now put their new knowledge and skills into action in their workplaces and communities. |
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An inaugural graduate champions health-care quality and safety at UC Davis Medical Center 
In his new job, Charley Johnston—an inaugural graduate of the School of Nursing—has shifted his focus from providing high-quality care to individuals to improving the quality and safety of care for everyone in his hospital unit. As a quality and safety nurse champion in UC Davis Medical Center’s burn intensive care unit, he works to prevent hospital-acquired infections among a population that, due to burn injuries, is extremely vulnerable to infections. |
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Lead by example: doctoral candidate creates opportunities in rural Northern California 
As an educator at a Northern California nursing school, Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing doctoral candidate Perry Gee recognized his role as a leader within his rural community. He says his experience at the UC Davis nursing school helped him further understand the many ways he can serve his community as a health-care leader to advance health and improve care. |
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Student develops innovative job shadowing program that brings together medical students and nurses 
In her first year as a graduate student at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, Amy Doroy developed a unique job-shadowing program where medical students spend a day with registered nurses in a critical care unit at UC Davis Medical Center, where she is also a nurse manager. The experience was part of a School of Medicine pilot program, the 2011 Race and Health Institute. |
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Student addresses communication gaps and cultural disconnects in health care 
Oleg Teleten, a registered nurse and a master’s degree student at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, hopes to improve health care by breaking down communication barriers between people and health-care providers. |
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Students use geographic information systems to help food bank connect its clients with healthy food 
Less than six months after classes opened at the recently launched Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis, students help improve health through projects that help community organizations solve health issues. One class project, for example, uses technology to make it easier for people to easily find accessible, nutritious and affordable food. |
Shontaya Carrico embarked upon a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree to tell stories. A nurse for 20 years — 10 of them a Clinical Nurse Specialist — she saw that the experiences of patients of color were not being discussed in the spaces, she believes, they should be.
Chris Hall, UC PMHNP student, has seen first-hand the dire need for mental health services in California.
Marla Shauer completed a Doctor of Philosophy degree so she could make the change she wanted to see happen. She chose the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis for its flexibility, financial support and faculty mix.
Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program Alumna Robin Whitney knew she wanted to be part of creating change in health care but she didn’t know what that was. Then she earned her doctoral degree and recognized she has the skills to move her ideas to something that translates into practice or has policy implications. Now, her research focuses on supporting individuals who live with serious illness, particularly cancer survivors, and also supporting their family caregivers.
A graduate of the 2021 Class of the Master’s Entry Program in Nursing, Ju-A Son credits the critical thinking and communications skills at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis for how she serves babies and families. As a registered nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at UC Davis Medical Center, she cares for the babies who are critically ill and require extra support to help them breathe.
Doctor of Philosophy candidate Kaykay Vang discusses how the pandemic and her personal experience shed light on Hmong Americans. This discovery led to her dissertation research, which she plans to defend this spring.
Bill Randall, a 2020 graduate of the Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program, said earning the terminal degree allowed him to achieve his dreams in the nursing profession — and even go beyond those dreams.
Bola Olarewaju, a 2020 graduate of the Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program, says her doctoral education improved how she cares for her current patients. The program also prepared her to apply her research skills to advance health across the globe with a unique project to improve health for infants in Cambodia.
Irene Cisneros-Fong graduated from the Master’s Entry Program in Nursing in December 2019. She landed her first nursing job in an emergency department. Then, three weeks later, the pandemic hit. UC Davis fully prepared her.
Keoki Leong and 64 other Class of 2020 physician assistant (P.A.) students were in the home stretch of their graduate-degree program when the coronavirus pandemic hit and wreaked havoc on their clinical rotations. It was this crisis, Keoki says, that proved to him the real value of being at UC Davis and also opened doors to his future career as a provider.
Jacquie DeMellow, a 2018 graduate of the School of Nursing doctoral program, said her doctoral education provided her the knowledge needed to develop an inpatient dashboard for her hospital during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Kayla Medina, a Class of 2018 graduate of the family nurse practitioner program, says the UC Davis program provided her with both basic skills and critical thinking skills to better support patients and their families.
Doctor of Philosophy alumna Michelle Camicia explains how investing in herself as a nurse paved the way to discoveries to support caregivers of stroke patients in meaningful ways.
Family nurse practitioner Samantha Gove says the School of Nursing prepared her to provide patient-centered care and strong teamwork skills in clinical practice. Read and watch Samantha discuss what she values about her student experience.
Amid the daily emergencies and unknown cases, registered nurse Robin Fuller sets herself apart from other nurses in her cardiac care unit. She credits that recognition and her confidence to critical-thinking skills she learned at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis. Read more about how Robin’s experience in the Master’s Entry Program in Nursing.
Jonathan Lippman, a 2019 alumnus of the Master of Health Services — Physician Assistant (P.A.) Studies Program, says graduating from the UC Davis program opened doors he never imagined. Read more about how he felt prepared to launch his career as a P.A.
Jason Ramos, a master’s entry nursing student who graduates in December, reunited with the registered nurse who saved his life in 2005 and then mentored him during clinical rotations.
From community barbershops to high-fidelity simulation suites, graduate students at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis, conducted research in a variety of settings with a shared vision to advance health. The 2019 Academic Symposium showcases students’ work in a daylong event in Betty Irene Moore Hall June 7.
Doctoral alumnus Rayne Soriano credits his professional achievements and personal strengths to UC Davis. Hear Rayne explain how the Doctor of Philosophy program changed his outlook.
Meet Angelica Gales, a 2017 alumna of the Master’s Entry Program in Nursing at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, who landed her first nursing job as a nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit at UC San Diego Health less than six months after graduation.
Victoria Jackson wanted to see a bigger picture of health care than what she saw as a nurse so she pursued a master’s degree as a family nurse practitioner. She says the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing program’s unique group-based learning and clinical rotations exposed her to what she needed to be a health leader.
Patrick Nguyen, a 2018 alumnus of the UC Davis physician assistant program, says his education, faculty set him up for first position as fellow at UC Davis Medical Center Radiology Department within months of graduation.
Sarah Brown Blake, a doctoral Class of 2017 alumna, teaches public health to future nurses in hopes of increasing their excitement to work in that arena and advocate for populations that often lack access to quality care.
Aldreen Venzon, master’s degree leadership Class of 2017, seeks to improve care at a systems level using health data.
Several students from the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis volunteer at clinic shelters, meet needs in wild fire evacuation areas in Northern California. Read and watch one student’s story about how her classmates responded to her call for help.
Leah Morris, master’s-degree leadership graduate of the Class of 2013, says her School of Nursing education prepared her to lead an innovative supportive oncology department.
Victoria Conlu, master’s-degree leadership graduate of the Class of 2017, explains how her education prepared her for a new position serving a Texas community.
Every spring, the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis hosts a daylong event showcasing students’ diversity of interests and depth of research. This year’s topics include opioid overdose education, prescription fruits and vegetable programs, baby safe-sleeping education and refugee health services.
Mariel Yapdiangco and Sandra Calderon, both Class of 2016 alumnae of the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis, share why they chose UC Davis and how the school led them to their positions today as nurse practitioners.
National service runs deep in Sara Delao’ s veins. Belonging to a family of veterans and providing nursing care to those who served in the armed forces, Delao feels called to serve these national treasures.
Every spring, the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis hosts a daylong event showcasing students’ diversity of interests and depth of research. This year’s topics include mining data to address community health issues, developing technology solutions to improve clinical practice, and researching chronic conditions to uncover solutions and develop interprofessional skills.
Sheree Criner’s ladder of success in nursing comes from dedication and hard work. Now the master’s-degree leadership student hopes to mentor other women and young African-American girls, so they will have support for and know what is possible in the nursing profession.
Every spring, graduate students from the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis present their scholarly work at a day-long event showcasing the diversity of interests and depth of research. This year’s students, once again, examined topics ranging from acute-care challenges, community health issues, modules for cultural inclusion and ways to improve education for and delivery of quality care.
