Penn Nursing

04/16/2026

🌟 Summer Innovation Institute | June 8–12, 2026
📣 Registration is now open!

Join us for a week-long, in-person experience designed to spark new ideas and accelerate innovation in healthcare. The Summer Innovation Institute (SII) offers an intensive introduction to design thinking and innovative problem-solving through interactive lectures, discussions, and hands-on activities.

Participants will explore how human-centered design, participatory approaches, and entrepreneurship can drive meaningful change—leaving with practical frameworks, new connections, and actionable plans.

SII brings together a dynamic community of healthcare students, clinicians, executives, founders, designers, researchers, advocates, and community-based organizations—all united by a shared goal: turning ideas into impact.

If you’re ready to build, test, and advance solutions in healthcare, this is the place to start.

https://upenn.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0MMIHUtMaqCQayO

04/15/2026

We are proud to announce Penn Nursing’s 2026 Alumni Award winners!

Seven distinguished alumni and one graduating undergraduate student have been selected for this year’s honors, recognizing their outstanding contributions to nursing, healthcare, and their communities.

Award recipients will be celebrated on May 15, 2026, during Alumni Weekend, alongside this year’s student and faculty award winners. Learn more about this year’s inspiring honorees:
🔗 https://bit.ly/4mnCR9x

04/15/2026

Abigail Wilpers, RN, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Health at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, has authored a compelling new editorial, “Navigating fetal conditions through a Reproductive Justice lens: lessons from composite cases in the United States,” published in Reproductive Health.

Dr. Wilpers’ work reflects a strong commitment to advancing health equity through community-engaged, justice-centered research. As a researcher affiliated with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, the CHOP Neonatology Health Services Research Lab, and the Roberts Center for Pediatric Research, she continues to shape critical conversations at the intersection of maternal health, policy, and reproductive justice.

This editorial marks an important milestone in a collaborative effort with SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, supported by CHOP PolicyLab, and underscores her leadership in innovative, impactful scholarship. Read more: https://bit.ly/41cdRIM

04/15/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined Penn Nursing for “Predict. Prevent. Protect: How AI is Changing Patient Safety and Care”—an evening of thoughtful conversation hosted by Ralph Reynolds (W’84, PAR’17, ’20, ’23) and Gail Reynolds.

Moderated by Margaret Bond Simon Dean Antonia M. Villarruel (pictured bottom right), the discussion featured leading experts exploring how artificial intelligence is transforming health care—enhancing our ability to predict risk, prevent harm, and protect patients across settings and throughout the lifespan.

Attendees heard insights from:
George Demiris, PhD
Kenrick Cato, PhD, RN
Halley Ruppel, PhD, RN
Wendy A. Henderson, PhD, CRNP, FAAN

At Penn Nursing, this work sits at the intersection of care, technology, and human judgment. As the conversation made clear, nurses play a critical role as innovators, integrators, and advocates—ensuring that emerging technologies enhance care while keeping patients and families at the center.

We’re grateful to our hosts and to all who participated in advancing this important dialogue on the future of health care.

04/14/2026

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Adriana Perez, PhD, ANP-BC, FAAN, as the inaugural Leonard A. Lauder Community Care Nurse Practitioner Chair, effective April 1, 2026.

Dr. Perez, Associate Professor and Vice Chair for Graduate Programs in the Department of Family and Community Health, is a nationally recognized leader whose work advances research, practice, and education in underserved communities. In this new role, she will lead the development and implementation of the Leonard A. Lauder Community Care Nurse Practitioner Program, strengthening its mission and impact.

Working closely with Executive Director Wanda Montalvo, PhD, RN, FAAN, and Director of Primary Care Sue Renz, PhD, RN, Dr. Perez will help ensure alignment across Penn Nursing’s primary care programs, faculty development, clinical education, and community partnerships. Her leadership bridges clinical practice, community engagement, policy, and mentorship, shaping the future of community-based care.

Dr. Perez also serves as a Senior Fellow at the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, holds leadership roles within CICADA, and is faculty in the NewCourtland Center for Transitions and Health. As a board-certified Adult Nurse Practitioner, she continues to provide care in North Philadelphia, focusing on older Latino populations.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Perez on this well-deserved appointment.

04/14/2026

Penn Nursing is honored that Pamela Cipriano, PhD, RN, FAAN, will serve as our 2026 Commencement speaker.

Dr. Cipriano is a globally recognized nursing leader whose 45+ year career has strengthened nursing’s influence on health policy at both national and international levels. She is a former President of the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the International Council of Nurses (ICN), and currently serves as Co-Chair of the UHC2030 Steering Committee hosted by the World Health Organization.

Her leadership continues to shape efforts to advance universal health coverage worldwide and to improve clinician well-being through her work with the National Academy of Medicine. In 2023, she was named a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing, among numerous other honors. We are also proud to celebrate her as a Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) alumna ’76.

Penn Nursing Commencement will take place at 3:00 PM (EST) on Monday, May 18, 2026, at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. We look forward to welcoming Dr. Cipriano and celebrating our graduates together.

Read more in our web announcement. https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/live/news/3498-health-policy-leader-nursing-advocate-and-hup-aluma-to-

Pamela Cipriano, PhD, RN, FAAN, former President of the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the International Council of Nurses (ICN), and Co-Chair of t...

04/13/2026

In 1986, the Barbara Bates Center for the Study of the History of Nursing was formally recognized by the University of Pennsylvania, securing its place as a lasting home for
nursing history, archives, and research. As part of Bates at 40: Milestones in Nursing History, we’re celebrating the moments that have shaped the center. This milestone is the reason this year marks the Bates Center’s 40th anniversary. Through archives, exhibitions, fellowships, and scholarships, the Bates Center continues to preserve nursing history and share its impact with new generations. https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/history/

04/12/2026

Penn Nursing's academic reputation is highlighted

A recent Forbes magazine analysis highlights the continued global dominance of U.S. universities in the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject, with institutions across the country leading in 37 of 55 disciplines. Among them, the University of Pennsylvania ranked No. 1 in the world for nursing.

This recognition reflects the strength of Penn Nursing’s academic reputation, research impact, and global partnerships—alongside the leadership of our faculty, students, and alumni who are shaping the future of healthcare.

We’re proud to see nursing, and Penn Nursing, recognized at the very top under the leadership of a distinguished team led by Margaret Bond Simon Dean of Nursing Antonia M. Villarruel, PhD, RN, FAAN.

04/11/2026

First-generation student. Future ICU nurse. Champion for health equity.

Meet Mikhaidia Shanae Miller, a fourth-year Penn Nursing student whose journey is rooted in family, community, and a deep commitment to patient-centered care. After emigrating from Jamaica, her family instilled in her the “beauty of education”—a value that led her to Penn and continues to shape her path in nursing. Inspired by her sister, an oncology nurse, she is driven to build meaningful, one-on-one connections with patients and advocate for more equitable care.

Through Penn First Plus (P1P), Mikhaidia found not just support, but a home—mentoring fellow first-generation students, leading community-building programs, and helping create spaces where students feel seen and supported. Her passion for nursing is deeply personal. As a Black, first-generation woman, she is committed to addressing disparities in healthcare and ensuring patients feel heard and respected.

After graduation, she plans to remain in Philadelphia to begin her career as an ICU nurse, with long-term goals of becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist.

“It’s really not just my degree—it’s a degree for my family, a degree for our lineage.”

Read more: https://bit.ly/4v9QQ6S

The fourth-year student reflects on what underpins her desire to pursue a nursing career and how Penn First Plus has supported her as a first-generation s...

04/10/2026

🎉 Shout out to our 2026 Faculty Award Winners!

We’re proud to recognize this year’s outstanding faculty honorees for their excellence in teaching, mentorship, research, and service. Your impact on our students, community, and field is truly meaningful.

All award recipients will be celebrated at the Annual Student, Alumni, and Faculty Awards event:

🗓 Friday, May 15, 2026
🕓 4:00–5:30 PM EST
📍 Ann L. Roy Auditorium

Join us in congratulating this exceptional group and celebrating their achievements!

https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/live/news/2944-shout-out-to-our-2026-faculty-award-winners

04/10/2026

An April 1 Wall Street Journal article makes a compelling case: Nursing is emerging as one of the most reliable pathways to economic stability and upward mobility in today’s changing workforce. As traditional routes to the middle class—manufacturing and some office-based roles—are reshaped by automation, globalization, and AI, healthcare continues to grow. Nursing, in particular, stands out for both job security and earning potential.

Consider the data:
Median salary for registered nurses: $93,600 (vs. $49,500 across all occupations)
Median salary for advanced practice nurses: $132,050
Projected growth for advanced-degree nurses: +35% (2024–2034)
Registered nursing growth: +5%, outpacing many sectors

Beyond the numbers, nursing offers something equally important: purpose-driven work that directly impacts lives and communities. At a moment of economic uncertainty, nursing is not just a profession—it’s a powerful engine for opportunity.

04/09/2026

In 1985, the Barbara Bates Center for the Study of the History of Nursing received the Alumni Association collection of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Training School for Nurses. This major acquisition preserved a rich record of HUP nursing history and made it available to future researchers and scholars.

As part of Bates at 40: Milestones in Nursing History, we’re celebrating the moments that have shaped the Center. Through archives, exhibitions, fellowships, and scholarships, the Bates Center continues to preserve nursing history and share its impact with new generations. https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/history/