![2023 Star Graduate Group Profile Photos](https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_200_21_9/public/media/images/2023-05/2023_star_students.png?itok=WO65GDi9 200w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_260_21_9/public/media/images/2023-05/2023_star_students.png?itok=ijULwjto 260w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_320_21_9/public/media/images/2023-05/2023_star_students.png?itok=UNoQtrCi 320w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_400_21_9/public/media/images/2023-05/2023_star_students.png?itok=9jbfSfOo 400w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_520_21_9/public/media/images/2023-05/2023_star_students.png?itok=NKVpSDq5 520w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_640_21_9/public/media/images/2023-05/2023_star_students.png?itok=qDbLf20H 640w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_800_21_9/public/media/images/2023-05/2023_star_students.png?itok=tPQDEYvG 800w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1040_21_9/public/media/images/2023-05/2023_star_students.png?itok=HCAJWb0V 1040w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1280_21_9/public/media/images/2023-05/2023_star_students.png?itok=3hFo3uIv 1280w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1600_21_9/public/media/images/2023-05/2023_star_students.png?itok=fOk7PE1u 1600w)
Perspectives from the Class of 2023
Columbia Nursing celebrates all of our students graduating this month! Graduates of our Masters Direct Entry (MDE), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), MS in Nurse Anesthesia, PhD, and Masters in Advanced Clinical Management and Leadership (ACML) programs told us why they chose Columbia and how their education has prepared them to excel as clinicians, scholars, leaders, and policy makers.
Stephen DiMauro
DNP Pediatric Primary Care ’23
![Stephen DiMauro, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner ’23](https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_200/public/media/general/2023-05/4.png?itok=O9J-eiT_ 200w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_260/public/media/general/2023-05/4.png?itok=kWX_5ZyR 260w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_320/public/media/general/2023-05/4.png?itok=8DnEOY2l 320w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_400/public/media/general/2023-05/4.png?itok=5R00QzFj 400w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_520/public/media/general/2023-05/4.png?itok=LZ68T5p1 520w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_640/public/media/general/2023-05/4.png?itok=a8orzUfZ 640w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_800/public/media/general/2023-05/4.png?itok=ledf517N 800w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1040/public/media/general/2023-05/4.png?itok=OBcIJ0gJ 1040w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1280/public/media/general/2023-05/4.png?itok=c5WE4Be_ 1280w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1600/public/media/general/2023-05/4.png?itok=NyuXgrFu 1600w)
Nursing is a discipline rooted in altruism, integrity, and social justice. These values and the unique connection nurses develop with patients and families inspired me to commit to this wonderful career.
Belinda Samuda
MDE ’23
![Belinda Samuda, MDE '23](https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_200/public/media/images/2023-05/1.png?itok=liV15pc1 200w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_260/public/media/images/2023-05/1.png?itok=DGBzdRCc 260w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_320/public/media/images/2023-05/1.png?itok=H5eDhujx 320w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_400/public/media/images/2023-05/1.png?itok=sIiQVE4X 400w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_520/public/media/images/2023-05/1.png?itok=BYdL8uT1 520w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_640/public/media/images/2023-05/1.png?itok=L2OeNmpu 640w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_800/public/media/images/2023-05/1.png?itok=ibhQf_ke 800w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1040/public/media/images/2023-05/1.png?itok=dEOm0xbM 1040w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1280/public/media/images/2023-05/1.png?itok=vxt2g_hZ 1280w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1600/public/media/images/2023-05/1.png?itok=QdjbM455 1600w)
Columbia has nurtured my passion by creating and cultivating a forward-leaning nursing curriculum that is not shy in addressing past and current racial injustices and disparities within the nursing and health care professions.
Yashika Sharma
PhD ’23
![Yashika Sharma, PhD ’23](https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_200/public/media/images/2023-05/3.png?itok=N8eeWrNf 200w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_260/public/media/images/2023-05/3.png?itok=YM0hnwtb 260w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_320/public/media/images/2023-05/3.png?itok=qz85xCxc 320w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_400/public/media/images/2023-05/3.png?itok=lR-3qfyY 400w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_520/public/media/images/2023-05/3.png?itok=WFaG1-0G 520w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_640/public/media/images/2023-05/3.png?itok=yfl0MwYj 640w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_800/public/media/images/2023-05/3.png?itok=0CKpv7Q2 800w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1040/public/media/images/2023-05/3.png?itok=xuNkzIuV 1040w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1280/public/media/images/2023-05/3.png?itok=aZH9Ze7o 1280w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1600/public/media/images/2023-05/3.png?itok=zzatCdlZ 1600w)
I encourage all nurses to consider a career in research or collaborate with nurse scientists because we do amazing work!
Penelope Theodoropoulos
MS in Advanced Clinical Management and Leadership ’23
![Penelope Theodoropoulos, Masters in ACML ’23](https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_200/public/media/images/2023-05/2.png?itok=BBlDOxk9 200w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_260/public/media/images/2023-05/2.png?itok=6WzOGp5s 260w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_320/public/media/images/2023-05/2.png?itok=uiJaEcEJ 320w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_400/public/media/images/2023-05/2.png?itok=mwuZJM19 400w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_520/public/media/images/2023-05/2.png?itok=7quwLPH2 520w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_640/public/media/images/2023-05/2.png?itok=Hb1_6p7E 640w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_800/public/media/images/2023-05/2.png?itok=h9mAtm_8 800w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1040/public/media/images/2023-05/2.png?itok=eAUtCS2h 1040w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1280/public/media/images/2023-05/2.png?itok=VsIZPU0a 1280w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1600/public/media/images/2023-05/2.png?itok=zCCo0bta 1600w)
I firmly believe that through my nursing career I can make a difference in the health care field. It is my goal to showcase the impact nurses can have and empower the new generation of nurses to shape the health care field by creating fair policies and addressing health disparities.
Noelle Zinn
MS in Nurse Anesthesia ’23
![Noelle Zinn, MS in Nurse Anesthesia '23](https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_200/public/media/images/2023-05/5.png?itok=XmztImxE 200w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_260/public/media/images/2023-05/5.png?itok=2tYXKESa 260w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_320/public/media/images/2023-05/5.png?itok=0yP74Kd3 320w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_400/public/media/images/2023-05/5.png?itok=ZYxGIRjn 400w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_520/public/media/images/2023-05/5.png?itok=dVH8LYMX 520w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_640/public/media/images/2023-05/5.png?itok=fnd5Lb37 640w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_800/public/media/images/2023-05/5.png?itok=sY6FvtcG 800w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1040/public/media/images/2023-05/5.png?itok=RecXJ2J6 1040w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1280/public/media/images/2023-05/5.png?itok=Layl-lWQ 1280w, https://www.nursing.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1600/public/media/images/2023-05/5.png?itok=p0TYTPoY 1600w)
I have realized throughout my clinical education that growth comes with challenges and experience, and I cannot wait to welcome both of these with open arms....My time at Columbia University has ignited a part of me that never wants to stop learning.