Ensuring a bright future involves you

Odette V. Denisa, M.S.N., RN, ACNP-BC, President, School of Nursing Alumni Association

Dear fellow alumni,
I am honored to serve as your new School of Nursing Alumni Association Board president! My term began January 2016 when Christian Doll, M.H.S., RN, B.S.N, CPN, handed me the proverbial reins. Special thanks go to Christian for his enthusiasm and outstanding leadership that re-energized our organization. Although he recently relocated to Fort Worth, we continue to benefit from Christian’s legacy of leadership. I am proud to report that his hard work and dedication contributed to increased membership as well as success with a number of our events. This past year we reached nearly 150 members including lifetime, annual and new graduate members. If you haven’t already, please join today and help us continue this exciting momentum.

Our second spring mixer at Bar Louie and the fall alumni mixer at Austin’s Rattle Inn were two of our most fun-filled and memorable events. This past November, we received great support from a dedicated group of alumni, faculty, students and members of our community who braved the winter weather to run, walk and trot in our annual Turkey Trot fundraiser. Fun was the order of the day with games, goodies, prizes and warm camaraderie. Our sincere gratitude goes to our Turkey Trot sponsors. Without their support, this event would not have been a success. In December, we closed out the year with our second “Converse with a Nurse.” Our colleague Charles Reed, Ph.D., RN, CNRN, served as guest speaker. Dr. Reed, who is executive director of the Center for Nursing Excellence at University Hospital, spoke to our Ph.D. and D.N.P. students about “Work/Life Balance While Pursuing the Doctoral Degree.” Dr. Reed, who earned his B.S.N. in 1996 and his Ph.D. in 2014 from our School of Nursing, shared his personal experiences and insight on balancing career and family with being a full-time student. Because of the event’s success, we plan to hold another “Converse with a Nurse” this spring. We hope you will join us for our future alumni mixers.

Dean Eileen Breslin is looking forward to hosting her annual Lifetime Member Dinner. Lifetime members will receive an invitation from her in the mail soon. Your involvement in our School of Nursing Alumni Association is key to our success. Please join us to help ensure a bright and proud future for your alma mater and future students who will follow in our footsteps. Thank you for your continued friendship and support. Please let me know if there is anything I can do. We want to hear from you!

Sincerely,
Odette V. Denisa, M.S.N., RN, ACNP-BC
President, School of Nursing Alumni Association

To become a member of the School of Nursing Alumni Association, please visit makelivesbetter.uthscsa. edu/sonmembership.
For information about joining the Board of Directors, contact Melissa Mireles at 210-567-5534 or mirelesm4@uthscsa.edu.
For information about giving opportunities and on how to include the School of Nursing in your estate plans, contact Gwen Notestine at 210-567-5313 or notestine@uthscsa.edu.

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FUTURE NURSE LEADERS RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS

Congratulations to this year’s School of Nursing Alumni Association scholarship recipients. They are (pictured with alumni association president Odette V. Denisa): B.S.N. student Monica Garza Vickery (left) and M.S.N. student Isabel Martinez. Scholarship recipients not pictured are: Annabelle Fulencheck and Edith Phillips, who are students in the B.S.N. program, and Meaghan Mugleston and Jasmin Villarreal who are studying in the M.S.N. program. The students attended the School of Nursing’s annual Scholarship Luncheon held March 5 at the Oak Hills Country Club.