GW Nursing Magazine Spring 2016

Alumni News
Alumni Resources
Our more than 1,400 alumni are a vital part of
the School of Nursing community, actively giving
back by offering their time, talents and expertise.
GW offers a variety of programs and services
tailored especially for alumni. We invite you to
explore these resources and opportunities and
to stay involved with the community.
Update your information and share your news!
http://alumni.gwu.edu/update-your-contact-info
Benefits & Services—
Alumni Education Programs,
Transcripts & Diplomas, Email
http://alumni.gwu.edu/alumni-benefits
@GWAlumni
/GWAlumni
The George Washington Alumni Association
Events & Programs—
GW Alumni Calendar of Events
http://alumni.gwu.edu/news-events
News & Updates—
GW Alumni News, Alumni Class Notes
http://www.gwalumni.org
Connections—
Update Contact Information, Alumni Directory
http://alumni.gwu.edu/alumni-login
School of Nursing
Office of Development and Alumni Relations
45085 University Dr.
Suite 201C
Ashburn, VA 20147
Phone: 571-553-0122
Erin Harkins-Medina
Associate Director for Development
School of Nursing
ehmedina@gwu.edu
Class Notes
Alumni Voices
KAREN OTT, DNP ’12, is the
director for Policy and Legislation
and the Acting Director for
Workforce and Leadership in the
Office of Nursing Services for the
Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA). She leads a health care
team to create and implement a
professional practice culture for
90,000 nursing personnel.
“The best way to predict the
future is to create it.”
DANIELLE MELICAN, BSN ’14,
MSN ’15, works at a small central
New Jersey full-scope midwifery
practice that provides care for
low-risk women and infants. She
is one of only three midwives
who assist women giving birth at
the hospital and in their homes.
Her practice also provides
well-woman, gynecological and
family-planning services.
“Birth is the great equalizer;
women have the ability to
be both amazingly strong
and utterly vulnerable
in the same moment. I
support their strength and
protect their vulnerability
while helping to guide their
newborn safely into their
arms, and I am so very
honored to be able to do it.”
MARIA LYLES, BSN ’15, a U.S.
Navy veteran who retired after
28 years, earned her nursing
degree and began her second
career with the assistance of the
GI Bill and GW’s Yellow Ribbon
program. Today she is a bedside
nurse on the night shift at the
Inova Fairfax Heart and Vascular
Institute Cardio Vascular Step
Down Unit.
“At CVSDU, each day is
as unique as the patient
whose status can change
with subtle indicators. Thus,
critical thinking during
each hourly round becomes
essential to patient care.”
MEAGAN BEYERS, BSN ’15,
who now works in the GW
Hospital emergency department,
recently received the
prestigious patient-nominated
DAISY Foundation Award for
Extraordinary Nurses. The
award is given by the Foundation
to honor the memory of J.
Patrick Barnes who died at age
33 of complications of Idiopathic
Thrombocytopenic Purpura.
Two hundred organizations
throughout the U.S. and abroad
present the award in recognition
of the ‘super-human’ work nurses
do for patients and families
every day.
“I am glad to know that I
can make a difference in
my patients’ lives, because
I know they most certainly
make a difference in mine.”
Monica Krzyszczyk
Development and Alumni Relations Coordinator
monicak@gwu.edu
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