This summer, three undergraduate nursing students spent part of their break doing something many students do not encounter until graduate school: contributing to active research projects alongside nurse scientists.

The below article has been reproduced from a LinkedIn blog post by Jennie De Gagne, PhD, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, CNE, ANEF, FAAN, a Professor at the Duke University School of Nu

Stephanie Brogdon, DNP, CRNA, who will serve as the new director for the nurse anesthesia DNP program, specializes in nurse anesthesia with a focus on trauma, obstetrics, and pediatric care.

For Reesa Eliza Artz ’24, nursing has never been confined to the walls of a hospital. As a school nurse, PhD student, doula, advocate, and community leader, she approaches every role through a holistic lens grounded in trust, connection, and equity.

A Chippewa Cree tribal member from Rocky Boy Nation in Montana, Artz said her identity has always shaped her understanding of health and the work she feels called to do.

A Calling Deferred

Whitfield’s interest in nursing began early. “I always knew I wanted to help in some way and be in the medical field,” she said. While still in high school, she participated in a certified nursing assistant (CNA) program, completing clinical experiences at a local VA hospital. That early exposure cemented her passion. “I fell in love with healthcare and nursing, and my goal when I graduated high school was to go to nursing school.”