Congratulations on your graduation and incredible achievements. You made it. Though we can't not celebrate in person. The official May ceremony is postponed until we can safely gather again, UIC has organized a virtual celebration to honor our graduates.
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Brian Stahulak, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, the Chief Nursing Officer at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Childen's Hospital is the recipient of 2020 UIC College of Nursing Distinguished Alumnus.
"I truly believe nursing is a calling. It takes a special person to go into a profession where your work demands you to give your heart, blood, sweat, and tears, day in and day out. But when I think about this year's graduating class, I know you have done so. Not for recognition or awards, you did it, because you wan to make a difference in the lives of those who need you the most."
This year, our guest speaker is Dr. Leslie Mancuso, PhD, RN, FAAN, president and CEO of Jhpiego, an international nonprofit health organization affiliated with Johns Hopkins University.
" This month we are celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale. Today, her life and work, the founder of modern nursing seems so long ago. Yet with a health crisis, I see commonalities between her and you. She did her pioneering work without a manual before she published notes on nursing in 1859. She didn't have rules for nursing. She didn't have guidelines. And now, as many of you embark on your careers, as you're trying to save lives, you will be doing that without a finished manual. Too much is unknown about this novel pathogen. As we move forward with COVID-19, we are still learning in real-time and we are still writing the guidelines. In 20 years you will look back at the central role you have played and you will be the lady with the lamp. You will be the light of hope for darkness for so many. It is your knowledge, your skills, your courage, and your creativity that will direct you and ensuring that all people have access to care. You will be one of the heroes of this part of history."
