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Welcome to the 75th anniversary celebration of the School of Nursing


Message from Sandra Carroll, RN, PhD
Vice-Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences
Executive Director, School of Nursing

For any organization, a 75th anniversary is a significant milestone worth honouring.

So much has changed since Constance Brewster, the director of the nursing school at the Hamilton General Hospital talked with Charles Burke, the dean of science at McMaster University which had just moved to Hamilton from Toronto a few years before, about the need to train nurses who could take leadership roles in the medical and healthcare fields which were seeing fast, innovative developments.

From the beginning our school has been graduating those leaders, innovators and collaborators. Our graduates have been known for making an impact, embracing diversity and shaping the future of nursing throughout the past 75 years, encouraged by faculty and staff passionate about the profession and its future.

We have also been involved in improving health care through research for many years. The school’s commitment to superb discovery work is evidenced in the support that has established seven endowed research chairs as well as a Canada Research Chair at the school.

And it has been noted. This year our nursing school is ranked 16th in the world by the QS Top Universities, which bases its ratings on academic reputation, employer reputation and research impact.

Even though we can’t gather to celebrate this important milestone in person this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I do hope you’ll join the School of Nursing’s virtual celebrations!

Over the years, many of you have stayed connected with classmates after graduation. For our 75th anniversary, we have launched a Nursing Class Book. We hope this book makes it easier to check in with classmates, former professors, staff and School of Nursing community members. Access was sent by email to alumni, and if you have any issues getting in, please email Laura Escalante at escalan@mcmaster.ca

As we celebrate, we’ll share some of our stories, welcome a new group of graduates and offer a series of virtual events in National Nursing Week 2021. I hope you’ll watch for these stories and activities, and plan to participate in our 75th events from May 10 to 15. You can register for the events here.

Watch your email inbox for all the details to come.

In honour of 75 years of history and distinction, I invite you to make a gift to our School of Nursing fund.

Gifts directed here support PhD students, research, and a variety of School of Nursing priorities supporting educational excellence. We have also listed a Nursing alumni class bursary option for students experiencing financial need, or you can support another fund of your choice.

Donors making an online gift of $75 or greater will receive a School of Nursing 75th anniversary commemorative pin in the mail. Thank you for your support.

I look forward to celebrating 75 years of McMaster’s School of Nursing with you!

Sincerely,

Sandra Carroll

 

Headshot of Sandra Caroll

 

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