Maxwell Hall in the 1950s imposed curfews and rules on our social life. Only one day of our three years were men allowed in our rooms. On Graduation Day in ’57, my husband proposed to me in my room. We are celebrating our 60th wedding anniversary this year. — Dorothy Simpson Dorion ’57
Columbia gave me such a good nursing education that I was able to transition into the Navy and work at the great Naval Hospital during the Vietnam War. This great education also gave me the confidence to work in the home care field through most of my continuing employment. My thanks to Columbia! — Susan Cake Nelson ’66
At Columbia Nursing there’s a big emphasis on leadership and thinking big. And that’s what I take with me every day now as a postdoc and in my future plans for working in academia as a nurse-scientist. I really want to lead change and improve patient outcomes on a national level. At Columbia, I received the encouragement and motivation from many faculty to feel that I can actually make a difference. — Jasmine Travers ’16
To submit your Columbia Nursing memory, and to view other alumni, student, and faculty submissions, visit: you.columbia.edu/schools/nursing
I knew the day that I entered the front door at the school of nursing that I had made the right decision. The faculty was in clinical practice, I had opportunities to train at the best clinical sites, and when I became an FNP, I was prepared to practice, lead teams, and be an academic nurse practitioner. — Marlene McHugh ’89 ’91 ’08
Columbia really encourages mentoring—it’s the idea that if you’re given a hand and had the opportunity to be mentored (and I was very lucky to have such a great mentor), that when you finally get to the place where you can help out that you should then give back and mentor a student. I learned from my mentor that when in doubt—whether it be a treatment plan or through your studies and education—do what’s best for the patient and you’ll never be in the wrong. — Matt Jenison ’10 ’12
My favorite Columbia Nursing memory is just being a part of this wonderful community of patient-focused, culturally aware, forward-thinking, compassionate, scholarly, driven, future leaders in health care. — Kent Haina ’14 125TH ANNIVERSARY
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