Final Graduate Entry Pathway cohort receives pins, symbols of joining nursing profession

The final cohort of the Graduate Entry Pathway (GEP) Program received pins during a  in front of family and friends on Monday, Sept. 14, signifying that the 35 learners have completed the courses required for taking the nursing licensure exam. The Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing for Non-Nurses degree program, which the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing at UMass Chan Medical School launched last month, replaces GEP.

As shared by nursing student Angela Lalli during the event, the nursing pin has a long history. The first pinning ceremony for any nursing school was held in 1880 at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. The original pin representing the Graduate Entry Pathway was designed by a student committee from the Class of 2007. Joan Vitello-Cicciu, PhD, the Donna M. and Robert J. Manning Chair in Nursing, dean of the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing and professor of nursing, said in her remarks that the pin represents a commitment to caring, a lifelong pursuit of learning and the trust that patients and families place in nurses.

“In a world of advancing technology, sophisticated treatments and complex healthcare systems, never underestimate the power of simply being present,” Dean Vitello-Cicciu said.

The GEP Program is for students with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing, who, after earning their RN licensure, will earn either a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree or a PhD in nursing.

Class speaker Timothy Heaney, a psychology major at Southern New Hampshire University who previously worked as a postpartum patient care associate, wants to be a pediatric nurse. Heaney reflected on what Akwasi A. Duah, PhD’17, RN, assistant professor of nursing and director of the GEP Program, discussed in his lectures: an unconditional positive regard.

“Those four words make up so much of what we will go on to do. It is this unconditional, absolute standard of positivity that is so essential for every single patient interaction,” Heaney said.

Michael J. Starr, a psychology major at Queens College, came to UMass Chan after working as a veterinary technician. He prepared his animal patients for surgeries, administered medications and assisted the veterinarian with examinations and procedures.

“When I entered nursing school, I wasn’t too surprised by how much crossover there was. Of course, the patient populations are very different, but many of the underlying medical concepts and clinical skills were there,” Starr said. “Despite the numerous responsibilities that nursing comes with, it has been nothing short of worthwhile so far.”

Farah J. Jean-Louis worked as a clinical support coordinator after earning a bachelor’s degree in business management from Bay State College.

“I pursued nursing because I wanted a career that combines compassion, advocacy and hands-on patient care. Pursuing my DNP allows me to take that passion further through advanced practice, while expanding my ability to improve access, outcomes and quality of care for the communities I serve,” Jean-Louis said. “I am Haitian and Cuban, so my desire to serve internationally, particularly throughout the Caribbean, is both personal and professional. I hope to use my education and clinical skills to give back, increase access to healthcare in underserved communities and eventually contribute to global health initiatives in a meaningful way.”

The following awards were presented during the pinning ceremony:

Graduate Entry Pathway Class of 2026

Watch the ceremony on YouTube.