Generations of nurses who’ve built careers out of saving and bettering the lives of others recently gathered to celebrate where it all began: Brock University.

Brock’s Homecoming Nursing Celebration welcomed about 100 alumni, faculty, staff and community partners back to campus Friday, Sept. 18 to reconnect and reflect on the next chapter of Nursing education at the University.

The recent transition to the School of Nursing, formerly the Department of Nursing, marked an important milestone for Brock and the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences.

“The creation of the School of Nursing is more than a new name,” said Lesley Rigg, Brock President and Vice-Chancellor. “It reflects the growth of the discipline at Brock, the expanding impact of its teaching and research and its important role in helping to meet the health-care needs of our region and our province.”

That progress has been made possible by the dedicated faculty and staff who’ve built a program known for its academic excellence; the clinical and community partners who’ve created meaningful practical learning opportunities for students; and Nursing alumni who represent the School with their daily contributions to health care.

“Every day, you are making a difference in hospitals, clinics, public health, long-term care, education, research and communities across Ontario and beyond,” Rigg said. “You represent Brock in countless ways, and your achievements continue to strengthen the reputation of this program.”

Over the past 26 years, Brock Nursing has equipped more than 2,200 grads with the skills needed to serve their communities with compassionate care.

“Nursing is a discipline rooted in compassion, leadership, innovation and evidence-based practice, and those values are reflected in the work being done by our students, faculty and graduates every day,” said Nota Klentrou, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences.

Klentrou said the Homecoming event was about celebrating the program’s rich history while also looking ahead to the future.

“The School of Nursing provides a strong foundation for continued growth in teaching, research and community engagement,” she said. “It positions us to strengthen our contributions to health-care education and to help meet the evolving needs of patients, families and communities.”

Mahoganie Hines’ (BScN ’16) knows first-hand the impact a Brock Nursing education can have.

The Nursing Educator with Hospice Palliative Care Ontario shared with her fellow graduates not only how her Brock experience has shaped her career but also how it has inspired her to give back.

Hines has welcomed Brock students into her workplace for various placements over the years and has often returned to the University to share her expertise in different classroom settings.

“Brock invested in me. It helped shape the nurse, leader and person I have become,” Hines said. “Continuing to contribute is one small way of paying that investment forward — and hopefully helping another student discover what they are capable of becoming,” she said. “That feels particularly important during times of continuous change and evolution in health care, in nursing and in education.”

Brock Nursing will continue to evolve with health care, with programs designed to remain on the cutting edge, said Karyn Taplay, Director and Associate Professor of the School of Nursing.

“Through state-of-the-art technology and innovative approaches to learning, Brock’s School of Nursing positions students at the forefront of their field, preparing them to have an immediate impact in even the most complex environments,” she said. “With their Nursing education guiding them, our alumni have made a difference in communities across the province and beyond — and are showing no signs of slowing. We are so proud of all they’ve accomplished.”