Penn Nursing

05/22/2026

What a Weekend!

Thank you for joining us for Alumni Weekend 2026. Whether you joined us to celebrate our Alumni Award winners, explored the SIM Lab during the showcase at Fagin Hall, marched in the parade, or chatted with fellow alumni at the picnic, we loved being able to reconnect with you on campus this weekend.

A photo library of highlights from the parade, picnic, and Alumni Weekend events is available now on the Penn Nursing Alumni website. https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/alumni/events-programs/alumni-weekend/

05/21/2026

Penn Nursing is proud to celebrate a historic milestone in global nursing education through our partnership with VinUniversity (VinUni).

On April 30, 2026, the VinUniversity Bachelor of Nursing program became the first nursing program in Vietnam to receive initial accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), meeting the rigorous standards required for U.S. accreditation.

“ACEN accreditation is an internationally recognized confirmation of the quality of the School’s and University’s nursing education program,” said Antonia M. Villarruel, PhD, RN, FAAN, Margaret Bond Simon Dean of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania. “It reflects a shared commitment to protecting and advancing public health.”

Congratulations to the VinUni community on this extraordinary achievement and to the future nursing leaders who will shape health care in Vietnam and beyond. https://bit.ly/4uQk49J

05/20/2026

Penn Nursing is proud to host the R25 Short Course for Injury Prevention: Firearm Injury Research, funded by the National Institutes of Health, May 26–30, 2026.

Led by MPIs Dr. Sara Jacoby and Dr. Kate McDonald, with co-investigators Dr. Katie Hoskins, Dr. Therese Richmond, and Dr. Julie Ward (Vanderbilt), this intensive program brings together 20 participants from across the country. The course equips emerging nurse scientists and interdisciplinary researchers with the skills, mentorship, and networks needed to advance firearm injury prevention research—with a strong focus on health equity and social determinants of health.

Penn Nursing is one of only three institutions funded through this R25 mechanism—and stands out for its all–nurse scientist leadership team driving this work.

We look forward to sharing highlights from the program and amplifying its impact in the weeks ahead.
🔗 https://bit.ly/4uIxg0t

05/19/2026

Join us as the 2025–2026 cohort of the Johnson & Johnson Nurse Innovation Fellowship delivers their final pitches this Thursday at Johnson & Johnson headquarters—streamed live.

This culminating event highlights nurse-led innovation and bold ideas designed to transform health care and improve patient outcomes. Learn more about the event and this year’s Fellowship cohort:
https://bit.ly/4dn3hnH

Register to attend the livestream:
https://bit.ly/4du0Gsi

The pitch event is the final, high-stakes capstone of the Johnson & Johnson Nurse Innovation Fellowship, where fellows present the innovative solution...

05/19/2026

In 2003, the Barbara Bates Center for the Study of the History of Nursing partnered with the Fabric Workshop and Museum to present RN: The Past, Present, and Future of the Nurses Uniform—an exhibition exploring how uniforms have shaped identity, status, and professional culture in nursing.

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

05/18/2026

Today, we will celebrate the 2026 Commencement of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing at the Kimmel Center.
As we honor this year’s graduates and the future of nursing leadership, we also reflect on the incredible achievements of our recent December 2025 graduates. Here, Dean Antonia M. Villarruel, PhD, RN, FAAN, celebrated their important milestone with members of the Penn Nursing community, recognizing the dedication, compassion, and excellence that define our graduates as they move forward to shape the future of health care.
Congratulations to our graduates!

05/17/2026

Congratulations to our admitted and graduating Master of Professional Nursing (MPN) students, and to all Penn Nursing students who will be honored tomorrow at our 2026 Commencement!

As we celebrate these exciting milestones, we are also proud to share that the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) officially granted the MPN program full accreditation through June 30, 2031, extending from our December 2025 graduates to our future cohorts. This accreditation reflects the strength, rigor, and excellence of this program offered here at the world's No.1 nursing school.

This recognition is a testament to the extraordinary dedication of our faculty, staff, clinical partners, and students. We look forward to celebrating the next generation of Penn Nursing leaders as they begin shaping the future of health care.

05/16/2026

Start your Saturday with inspiration at the Penn Nursing Showcase! 🌟 Explore exciting work happening across our programs, centers, faculty, and students. See how innovation and impact shape the future of nursing. Full schedule: https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/alumni/events-programs/alumni-weekend/

05/15/2026

Friday, May 15 — Kick‑Off Reception

Step into Alumni Weekend with our Kick‑Off Reception at Fagin Hall! 🎉 Enjoy wine, light refreshments, and the chance to reconnect while celebrating our award recipients. The perfect start to an unforgettable weekend. Event details:

https://www.nursing.upenn.edu

05/14/2026

Transplant care doesn’t end in the operating room—it begins there.

For Penn Nursing alumni and faculty, it’s a lifelong commitment to patients navigating their second chance at life. Holding the Line Between Lives explores the complexity, precision, and humanity behind that work.

At the same time, the next generation of nurses is being trained to meet patients across the full spectrum of care. Penn Nursing’s Adult-Gerontology programs prepare clinicians to understand how bodies, minds, and lives evolve—delivering care with both clinical rigor and compassion, from bedside to community.

This issue brings those stories together:

The journey into nursing through PATH, featuring Casey Benchimol
Hands-on innovation and clinical curiosity in action
The intersection of creativity and care in The Art of Nursing
And a message from the Dean on the unmistakable momentum shaping the future of nursing

Care that lasts. Courage that moves. History that inspires.

Explore the latest stories from Penn Nursing:

Penn Nursing: The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing Magazine