UMass Chan Graduate Entry Pathway pinning ceremony welcomes 34 nurses to career

The Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing at UMass Chan Medical School recognized 34 new nurses from fields as diverse as criminal justice, marketing, design and teaching at the annual Graduate Entry Pathway (GEP) Pinning Ceremony on Monday, Sept. 9. The ceremony, which can be viewed on YouTube, signifies each student’s successful qualification as a registered nurse with additional years of study leading to a Doctor of Nursing Practice or a PhD in nursing.

“Congratulations and welcome into our wonderful, honored, trusted profession,” said Joan Vitello-Cicciu, PhD, the Donna M. and Robert J. Manning Chair in Nursing, dean of the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing and professor of nursing. “It is really a highlight of my 48-year career to welcome you all into nursing.”

“As a nurse, you’ll face situations that test your patience and understanding, so practicing tolerance toward ourselves and others is crucial,” advised Akwasi A. Duah, RN, PhD’17, assistant professor of nursing and director of the Graduate Entry Pathway Program. “Today you look forward to the future with great excitement and anticipation. Pledge to uphold the principles of tolerance and create environments where diversity is celebrated; patients, families and colleagues feel respected; and compassion is known.”

Speaking on behalf of the class, Cheyanne Hill thanked faculty members for their patience through moments where students “perhaps raised their blood pressure and caused a few headaches.”

“I remember being terrified of starting clinicals with no prior hands-on experience. There were moments of doubt, but I'm grateful I didn't quit because I wouldn't have heard my pediatric patient say she wants to be just like me when she grows up,” Hill said. “The fact that I, as a student nurse, had the ability to inspire another young girl of color will always be a powerful reminder of why I continue to persevere today. I hope each of you has had a moment that helped you find your identity and purpose in nursing.”

Five GEP students earned honors for remarkable achievements: Karen Potter received the Award for Academic Excellence; Natalie Chan earned the Award for Clinical Excellence; Ashley Desire received the Spirit of Nursing Award; Theodora Jean accepted the Award for Community Engagement; and Joseph R. Hegmann accepted the Student Daisy Award. UMass Memorial Medical Center was recognized as Outstanding Clinical Partner and Cathy Polselli, Johnna Quinn, Heather Shaw, Lauren Steiner, Daniel Mullaney and Peter Vecchiarelli, MS’14, earned Outstanding Preceptor Awards.

Potter ran her own massage therapy business for 20 years before joining the GEP program. “I want to help people in a caring and compassionate role,” Potter said. “That’s what I did in my massage practice, so I just want to take it to another level and help people on their mental health journeys.”

“I really loved my clinical experience here,” said Chan, a former research technician at Mass Eye and Ear. “When I was having a bad day, going to clinical actually made me feel better and caring for my patients made me a lot happier. It was a privilege to think about another person besides myself and to be part of someone's life, especially when I was in oncology at the end of a lot of people's lives—it was my privilege to care for them.”