On March 7, 2024, students in the Master of Nursing Health System Leadership & Administration program (MN HSLA), had the unique opportunity to participate in a Networking with Nurses event as part of their residency week on campus at Bloomberg Nursing.
Alumni from the Master of Nursing program in leadership roles, were invited to speak with current MN HSLA students and share their personal stories and career trajectories.
“The goal of the networking event was really to give our students the ability to connect with nurses working directly in the field of health system leadership and administration, and to provide them with a perspective on what those roles entail,” says Shan Mohammed, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream at the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing and Director of the Master Nursing Program. “This mentorship truly promotes the multi-faceted range of opportunities available to nurses upon graduation.”
In small groups, students were able to speak informally with nurse leaders, ask them questions about their current roles, and learn how a MN degree from Bloomberg Nursing helped prepare them to excel in their career journey. The event was moderated by Associate Professor Lisa Cranley, who also teaches in the program.
Candace Cho a current MN HSLA student described the event as a valuable moment to connect with leaders as a novice nurse.
“I think it’s an amazing opportunity to meet our health leaders and have personal conversations with them about their own journeys, interests and how they came to be in their current roles. This is something I will undoubtedly take with me as I move forward in the program,” says Cho.
Alumni attendees of the event included Bonnie Lum (MN 2021), who is now also a PhD student, Michael Nguyen (MN 2018) a Nurse Manager at UHN, Judy Pararajasingham (MN 2016) a Nursing Education Manager at Unity Health, and Denika McPherson (MN 2021) a Senior Business Advisor to the Government of Ontario and recent speaker at the Faculty’s Black Futures Month event.
“This was an invaluable opportunity for me to connect with fellow nursing professionals and nursing graduate students to exchange insights,” says McPherson. “It reinforced the significance of networking and community-building while showcasing the impactful achievements of Bloomberg Nursing alums and the endless possibilities a nursing career brings.”
McPherson added that speaking with the future generation of nursing leaders was incredibly inspiring and motivating particularly in discussions that centered on the vital role of diversity and representation.
“As an alumna, I look forward to staying connected with Bloomberg Nursing and the MN program to drive positive change in healthcare and beyond,” says McPherson.