Members of Barry University’s Nurse Practitioner Graduate Program were honored by faculty and staff this week during a White Coat Ceremony. The traditional rite of passage was held virtually, but physical distance was bridged by words of inspiration and well wishes from Program Director Dr. Corvette Yacoob as well as Assistant Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Dr. Tony Umadhay.
Graduating from Barry’s Nurse Practitioner program is no small feat, but this year’s class encountered the kinds of challenges even veterans of the field have struggled to overcome. With courage and tireless devotion to their profession, the Class of 2020 entered the frontlines of our nation’s health care response to the Covid-19 crisis. They have worked full time during the pandemic, volunteered their skills where they were needed most, and met adversity with grace. After many months of fundraising and planning to host the popular annual Health & Wellness Fair—a free event in Hollywood, Florida, that offers complimentary health screenings and education to the whole community—the Class of 2020 made the difficult yet necessary decision to cancel. This disappointment was felt throughout our community, but it did not keep Barry’s NPs down.
The Class of 2020 proves that being a Barry Nurse Practitioner goes far beyond the diploma or the White Coat Ceremony. Barry Nurses are dedicated and fearless, and their commitment to making the world a better place inspires us all. Congratulations to the Class of 2020.