Health and Human Services News

Building the future of health care education

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Twice a year, members of the McQueary College of Health and Human Services (MCHHS) Advisory Board come together to learn about the college’s progress, new collaborations and opportunities for growth. 

The spring 2025 MCHHS Advisory Board meeting took place in April. Members got the chance to visit the campus of the Alliance for Healthcare Education (currently housed in Cox College) to learn more about MCHHS’ role in the partnership and its impact on the community. 

A closer look at the Alliance

The Alliance is a collaborative initiative among local education and health partners designed to transform how health care education is delivered in the region. 

Logo of The Alliance for Healthcare EducationIt was launched in fall 2023 as a partnership among Missouri State University, CoxHealth, Ozarks Technical Community College and Springfield Public Schools.  

The Alliance was created to expand access to education, strengthen collaboration and address workforce needs in health and human services. 

“This new and exciting approach to health care education offers real potential to serve students and communities more effectively,” said Dr. Sarah Murray, assistant professor and program director of nutrition and dietetics. 

Visit highlights 

During the visit, Advisory Board members toured the Alliance campus, explored its educational spaces and student support needs and learned more about its structure and mission. They also asked thoughtful questions to find out how the partnership can support evolving community needs. 

Members also heard about how the Alliance will double the number of seats in MSU’s nursing programs (increasing from 56 to 112 per semester), supporting both student retention and the growing demand for health care professionals. 

In addition, the visit included: 

  • A panel discussion featuring voices from all four partners, sharing how each organization contributes to and benefits from the collaboration. 
  • A discussion on future plans for the Alliance, which highlighted growing interest from other community stakeholders eager to join this one-of-a-kind collaboration. 

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Stepping into clinical care with compassion

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April 29 was a momentous occasion for 11 students in Missouri State University’s School of Nursing. 

They participated in the school’s White Coat Ceremony, an event that marks the transition from classroom learning to hands-on clinical practice. The ceremony represents more than wearing a uniform. It symbolizes the importance of compassionate patient care at the very start of clinicals.  

“This is a significant milestone in the journey of our future Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP),” said Dr. Melissa Penkalski, graduate program director and associate professor in the School of Nursing. “We’re celebrating the transformation to the practice of healing and compassionate care to make a positive impact on patients.” 

Embracing the oath of care 

The ceremony opened with a welcome by Penkalski, followed by a moving moment as the students recited an oath to compassionate patient care and donned the iconic white coat, which signifies their status as health care professionals. 

“Let your knowledge guide you but let empathy lead you,” said Dr. Lori Taula, clinical assistant professor. “Today you wear the coat — not just for yourself, but for those who will place their trust in you.” 

Dr. Ronda Entlicher-Stewart, FNP program coordinator and clinical assistant professor, gave the keynote speech, emphasizing the importance of humanism. 

“In the ever-changing health care arena, with increased focus on the use of technology, we cannot overemphasize the importance of incorporating humanism into daily clinical practice,” said Entlicher-Stewart. “This ceremony provided the platform to engage students at the start of clinical and recognize connection and compassion as integral components of the delivery of health care.” 

She notes the students were proactive in coming to the faculty and the Family Nurse Practitioner Student Association group to incorporate a White Coat Ceremony. The Arnold P. Gold Foundation gave resources to assist with the event and provide the pins. 

A personal reflection from future nurses 

After the students received their pins in front of family and friends, the ceremony concluded with a closing speech by Sarah Page, a FNP student from the Class of 2027.   

“I believe there’s great value in a White Coat Ceremony,” she said. “For us students, it not only signifies a time for celebration in the work we’ve done and the milestones we’ve reached but it also signifies the importance of the roles we’re preparing for.” 

She also believes such a ceremony allows students to take a step back and remember why they chose to become nurse practitioners and gives light to those patients who have touched their hearts. 

A tradition rooted in humanism 

The original White Coat Ceremony began in 1993 at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons by Dr. Arnold P. Gold, who was a professor and pediatric neurologist. A passionate advocate for humanistic health care, he believed the oath taken by new physicians at the end of medical school came too late. 

Through the nonprofit organization he and his wife, Dr. Sandra Gold, started, the Arnold P. Gold Foundation has expanded the White Coat Ceremony around the globe. Today, nearly every medical school in the United States, hundreds of nursing schools and many other health profession schools around the globe participate in this tradition of humanistic care. 

“This ceremony is so important because it requires each student to publicly commit their intention to care for every patient with compassion,” said Dr. Kathleen Reeves, president and CEO of the Gold Foundation.  

“The White Coat Ceremony also shows Missouri State’s School of Nursing’s commitment to humanism for patients, families, health care workers, faculty, the community and their students. Humanism is truly essential to health for all of us; it’s so important that we must start every student’s journey with a personal commitment to humanism.” 

The Gold Foundation champions the human connection in health care. The foundation engages schools and their students, health systems, companies and individual clinicians in the joy and meaning of humanistic health care, so patients and their families can be partners in collaborative, compassionate and scientifically excellent care.

The White Coat recipients 

Class of 2026

Karly Soden 

Class of 2027 

Angela Beck
Heather Day
Lucy George
Amanda Hayward
Sarah Page
Liz Reida
Roopa Ramaswamy
Skylar Schafer
Elizabeth Steward
Ellie Villanueva 

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Celebrating 50 years of oncology nursing

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From April 9-13, the 50th Annual ONS Congress® took place in Denver, Colorado. 

Held at the Colorado Convention Center, the event welcomed more than 4,000 oncology nurses and professionals to commemorate the history and transformation of cancer nursing care. Among them was Yvonne Callahan, clinical assistant professor in the School of Nursing at Missouri State University. 

She not only attended the milestone event but also served as a main session presenter. 

This year’s theme, “Celebrating Yesterday and Transforming Tomorrow” set the tone for innovation, evidence-based practice and interprofessional collaboration in oncology nursing. 

Sharing expertise 

Callahan presented on “Cardio-Oncology: It’s not what you think it is!” to help nurses better understand this emerging field. 

Yvonne Callahan
Yvonne Callahan

While the term Cardio-Oncology may suggest a focus on heart cancers, it is actually about maintaining a healthy heart during and after cancer treatment.  

The session explored the impact of cancer treatments on the heart and discussed strategies nurses can use to assist patients in managing their cardiovascular health. 

“This field is still unfamiliar to many,” Callahan said. “But with the right tools and knowledge, nurses can make a big difference in long-term outcomes.” 

She emphasized the need for early education and evidence-based strategies to support patients during and after treatment. Her expertise also led to national engagement, including a podcast appearance, a feature in CURE magazine and a forthcoming article in ONS Voice. 

Turning insight into inspiration 

Callahan’s session showcased Missouri State’s dedication to advancing nursing education and leadership. 

“Being part of this milestone year was incredibly meaningful,” she said. “It’s a reminder of how nurses can lead change locally and globally.” 

Her voice contributed to shaping ongoing conversations in one of the fastest-evolving areas in oncology nursing. 

Back on campus, Callahan brings insights from the congress into the classroom. She teaches first-semester nursing students how evidence-based practice and professional identity shape meaningful careers. 

“When students understand the impact nurses can make, it helps them see their own potential,” she said. “That’s how we prepare them for leadership from day one.” 

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Exploring the art and science of dementia care

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Over the recent spring break, a group of Missouri State University students and faculty traveled to the Netherlands to explore a person-centered approach to aging and dementia care. 

From hands-on lectures to cultural tours, the program blended art, science and human connection – all inspired by the groundbreaking The Hogeweyk® Dementia Village near Amsterdam. 

An eye-opening experience 

The week-long interdisciplinary study abroad program took place from March 15-21. 

Jennifer Pratt, clinical professor of communication sciences and disorders (CSD), and Dr. Traci Garrison, clinical associate professor of occupational therapy (OT), led this program. 

Twelve undergraduate and graduate students from CSD, gerontology, health sciences, nursing and pre-OT participated in the program. They prepared through weekly pre-departure sessions, guided readings and guest lectures. 

The program itinerary blended academic lectures with cultural exploration. Pratt and Garrison expressed sincere gratitude to Missouri State’s office of education abroad and McQueary College of Health and Human Service for supporting and funding this program. 

“We designed this program to show students what’s possible,” said Pratt. “We wanted them to look at dementia not just through a medical lens, but through the lens of quality of life.” 

Students got the chance to visit the internationally recognized The Hogeweyk®. Unlike traditional institutional models, The Hogeweyk® empowers individuals with severe dementia to live as normally as possible in a secure community setting. Residents live in shared homes based on lifestyle interests, with access to grocery stores, cafés and open green spaces. Their focus is on living well, right until the end.

The Dutch model emphasizes that dignity, autonomy and well-being are just as essential as medical treatment – a philosophy that deeply resonated with students.  

“Learning through travel is just something the classroom cannot replicate,” said Pratt. 

A new perspective on care

MSU students explore historic Amsterdam during their education abroad experience.
MSU students explore historic Amsterdam during their education abroad experience.

According to Garrison, this study abroad program emphasized more than treatment.

“It encouraged students to consider how care environments can empower people to live fully, no matter their diagnosis.”

Students also learned from leading experts at the Leyden Academy on Vitality and Aging and Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience about the science behind dementia. At the institute, the group toured a brain bank and explored the latest dementia research, making classroom theories come alive. 

“We studied something we see every day, but in a completely new way. It challenged us to rethink traditional care approaches,” said Natalie Hampsten, a senior CSD major. “It opened my eyes to what care really looks like when you center it around people.” 

Abby Rudd, a senior gerontology major, was struck by The Hogeweyk’s® philosophy.  

“They taught us to focus on possibilities, not disabilities. That mindset changes everything,” she said. 

Besides the learning opportunities, the program offered cultural immersion. Students explored Amsterdam’s history through walking tours and visits to the Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum. These experiences contributed historical and emotional depth to their academic exploration, encouraging empathy and reflection. 

“This was my first time studying abroad and visiting the Netherlands and it was amazing!” said Hannah Todd, a speech-language pathology graduate student. “What I enjoyed most was how the program blended Dutch culture with dementia care in such a meaningful way.” 

A focus on compassion and empathy 

For Karly Soden, a Doctor of Nursing Practice student, traveling to a new country, learning with new people and seeing dementia care through a global lens was an unforgettable experience.  

“It shifted my perspective of human connection and its importance in health care,” she said. 

In class or on the streets of Amsterdam, students learned that true care means honoring lives, not just managing symptoms. Their experiences brought theory to life and reshaped their understanding of compassion in practice. 

“Students didn’t just learn about dementia,” said Garrison. “They learned to think differently, lead with empathy and carry those values into their future careers.” 

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