Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing awards celebrate innovative achievements

The 2023 Celebration of Scholarship and Awards of the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing was held at UMass Chan Medical School on Thursday, June 1.

The annual event preceded the 50th Commencement Exercises taking place on Sunday, June 4, when 54 Doctor of Nursing Practice and three PhD in Nursing degrees will be conferred, as well as one postgraduate certificate, to the Class of 2023.

Joan Vitello-Cicciu, PhD, the Donna M. and Thomas J. Manning Chair in Nursing, dean of the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing and professor of nursing, presided over the award presentations.

“Each of these awards fills me with immense joy. It is a special occasion that brings us together to celebrate the achievements of all our 2023 graduating nursing students who will soon join the ranks of our esteemed alumni. We commend you all for your unwavering dedication and your sacrifices as learners,” Dean Vitello said.

Vitello presented the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing Dean’s Award to Heather Briere, a nurse practitioner and graduating PhD student, for her dissertation work identifying a set of diagnoses and conditions that were more common in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, or IDD, than adults without IDD who died during hospitalization.

“This is groundbreaking work and has the potential impact education, policy and health care for the thousands of adults with IDD,” Vitello said. “Heather’s commitment to education, teaching, research, nursing and adults with IDD is worthy of recognition.”

Chancellor Michael F. Collins presented the Chancellor’s Award, the evening’s highest honor, to Amanda Hazeltine, MS, CNP, AGACNP-BC, class speaker and a Graduate Entry Pathway (GEP) to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student.

Hazeltine is a mother of two who decided to pursue a career in nursing after seeing the supportive care her late mother received during her cancer treatment. She had 13 years of experience as a leader in health care, communications and project management before entering the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing. Hazeltine worked as an immunology oncology nurse while completing her DNP. She will continue her work as a hematology oncology nurse practitioner at Massachusetts General Hospital after graduation.

In his presentation to Hazeltine, Chancellor Collins said, “I want to thank you for all that you’ve done for our academic community. But, more importantly, for your patients. We wish you all the best as you continue along your career path, and always know that we shall take great pride in calling you one of our own.”

Vitello presented three new awards: the Clinical Excellence in Mental Health Nursing Award to Kat Mendez; the Advocacy and Innovation Award to Maria Barros; and the Making a Difference Outstanding Community Service Award to Mary Opatka.

The ceremony also included the presentation of the inaugural Service Leadership Award to Kelly Garcia and Madeline Lane.

Kenneth Peterson, PhD, the Marcellette G. Williams Scholar, and assistant professor of nursing, was awarded the Faculty Daisy Award, recognizing contributions a faculty member makes to the future of nursing.

“Everything Dr. Peterson does as an educator, an academic and a clinician is centered around trying to understand the context and the perspective from those he is caring for,” Vitello said. “His commitment to championing diversity and inclusion speaks to his kind-heartedness and compassion.”

The full award ceremony can be watched on the UMass Chan YouTube page.

The 2023 awards and recipients, some of whom will earn their degrees during Commencement on Sunday, June 4, are: