The American Association for Men in Nursing (AAMN) has named Duke University School of Nursing one of its 2019 Best Schools for Men in Nursing. “The success of Duke University School of Nursing as one of the nation’s leading schools of nursing education and research has been fueled by its diversity,” AAMN noted in the citation. “The school conveys the message of inclusiveness through its faculty, staff, students, and alumni in the community.”

“We take great pride in this prestigious honor, because it recognizes our efforts to make traditionally underrepresented groups feel welcome and empowered in the nursing field,” said Marion Broome, PhD, RN, FAAN, Dean and Ruby Wilson Professor of Nursing at the Duke University School of Nursing, Vice Chancellor for Nursing Affairs at Duke University, and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs for Nursing at Duke University Health System. “We are committed to recruiting, retaining and training the world-class nurses of tomorrow, regardless of their gender. We believe that students who bring a diversity of perspectives and backgrounds, as men do, make our program richer.”

DUSON students Rob Stern and Guillermo Valdes accepted the award at AAMN’s 44^th annual conference in Orlando, Florida on October 31. They represent Duke’s AAMN chapter, which organizes activities to support male students currently at the school and to encourage more men to attend in the future. Past events have included visiting schools to encourage young men to consider nursing as a career, volunteering at local non-profits, and conducting men’s health workshops in the area.