LIVONIA, MICH. – Madonna University announced today that its Nationally Accredited College of Nursing and Health will celebrate its 60th anniversary of nursing education with a special event on Saturday, February 25, 2023.
In 1962, Madonna launched its first four-year bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program, and since then has graduated more than 7,000 nurses.
Over the years Madonna has earned a reputation for developing students into confident, prepared, and patient-focused nurses who exemplify excellence and leadership in the nursing profession. While Madonna nursing alumni work across 43 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada, the majority share their skills and deliver compassionate care in Michigan.
“It's important to take a moment to celebrate this milestone with the community and to recognize the nurses, faculty members, and healthcare professionals who lead with care, compassion, and commitment,” said Deborah Dunn, Ed.D., provost and interim dean of nursing at Madonna University, where she began teaching nursing in 1992. “It’s exciting to see the names of the alumni and current and former faculty members who have RSVPed for the event. I am so thrilled and appreciative, too, of many of our industry partners who have become event sponsors.”
“Through the years, I have witnessed the incredible growth and profound impact that our graduates have had on the healthcare industry, locally and globally,” Dunn said.
Linda West Kolarik, a 1967 graduate of Madonna’s nursing program, spent 54 years serving the community as a nurse. Of her time at Madonna University, she shared, “I have so many good memories of my fellow classmates… I remember a winter snowstorm that prevented hospital staff from getting to St. Mary's and they sent a van to the dorms and loaded up us nursing students to staff the hospital that day. The nursing profession opened many doors for me.”
Madonna University currently has 25 programs in Nursing & Health Sciences, including bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees and certificates in nursing, gerontology, dementia care, population health, public health, and more.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nursing profession is projected to grow at a rate of 12 percent through 2028, outpacing the average growth for other professions.
Dunn added, “Due to the COVID pandemic, an aging workforce, and other factors, I regularly meet with health system leaders who are looking for well-trained people to meet the demand for nurses. Through our work together, major indicators have shown that as the number of BSN nurses at a hospital rises, mortality rates and rates of infection decrease. Madonna is well-situated to provide the nursing leaders that can continue to curb these numbers.”
The 60th anniversary celebration takes place Saturday, February 25, 2023 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Madonna Welcome Center (36600 Schoolcraft Road, Livonia, Mich.). A ticket for cocktails, dinner, and the program is $35 per person.
Learn more about the legacy of Madonna University’s nursing program and RSVP for the celebration at madonna.edu/nursing60.
Liberal arts education, career preparation, and service-learning have been the hallmarks of a Madonna University education for more than 85 years. In addition to the beautiful main campus, conveniently located at I-96 and Levan Road in Livonia, Madonna is a top-ranked regional university in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report offering academic programs in Gaylord, Macomb, and online in Haiti and the United Arab Emirates. Michigan’s most affordable, independent Catholic liberal arts university, Madonna offers more than 100 undergraduate and 35 graduate programs in the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Education and Human Development, and Nursing and Health, as well as the School of Business. Learn more at madonna.edu.
