National Nurses Week is May 5-12, and in honor of our nurses and emergency personnel, NDWorks asked you to share your appreciation for those working in University Health Services, the Wellness Center, the testing center and the vaccination clinics and on the contact tracing team. In addition to NDWorks’ efforts, there was also a “thank you” letter-writing campaign organized by the COVID-19 Response Unit (CRU). More than 200 students, faculty and staff wrote notes to emergency personnel that will be delivered to them individually this week. Below are those who responded to the request from NDWorks.
Dear Nurses and Emergency Personnel,
When the decision was made to bring students back for in-person classes last fall, we knew it wouldn’t be easy. Thanks to your tremendous efforts and extraordinary teamwork, it was possible in the midst of a global pandemic for Notre Dame to continue to educate its students, conduct groundbreaking research and be a place that nourishes the faith of many. We could not be more grateful for your generous and selfless service. You are an inspiration to us all. May God bless you and your loved ones.
In Notre Dame,
Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
President
Thank you to the nursing staff and emergency responders here at the University of Notre Dame for all that you do. Your expertise and commitment were crucial to our ability to welcome students back to campus and operate safely all year, and your compassionate care greatly enhanced the physical and emotional well-being of all of us within the Notre Dame community.
I am grateful to every one of you for being HERE and for your service to Our Lady’s University. It’s my honor to call you colleagues.
Marie Lynn Miranda
Provost
Dear Medical Staff,
I am writing in awe and gratitude for the incredible work you have performed over the past 15 months. Much has been made of the University’s ability to keep students in the residence halls and classrooms throughout this academic year; your efforts have been absolutely central to this achievement.
Please know how thankful all of us here at the University are for the great care you have shown our students, faculty and staff, for the diligence with which you have carried out your work, and for the tirelessness you have shown throughout these months. All of this has profoundly impacted our students for the better, allowing them the opportunity to pursue their college education at a time when that privilege was denied to so many.
I could not be more grateful for all you do on behalf of the University. Be assured that your efforts are noticed and appreciated. I wish you well this National Nurses Week and in the months ahead.
In Notre Dame,
Shannon Cullinan
Executive Vice President
To all of our talented and dedicated nurses and emergency personnel,
It has been an honor and privilege to witness your inspiring and tireless efforts this past year as you have served Our Lady’s University and all of our students, faculty and staff colleagues. Notre Dame is a better place because of all of you!
Onward together!
Michael D. Seamon
Vice President for Campus Safety
and University Operations
As the daughter, daughter-in-law and sister of nurses, this profession has always held a special place in my heart. In normal times, nursing requires compassion, expertise and commitment. This year, the nurses in University Health Services, the Wellness Center and the COVID-19 Response Unit have embodied all of these qualities and more. They have worked tirelessly, displayed remarkable patience and adapted creatively to the pandemic to serve their patients well. I am so grateful for our amazing colleagues and their hearts of gold!
Erin Hoffmann Harding
Vice President for Student Affairs
To our Notre Dame Community Nurses,
Thank you for your heroic leadership and service to Notre Dame. Your commitment to our collective health, excellence in clinical support and kind nature have been a cornerstone for the University’s response to COVID-19. Thank you for your spirited and inspiring leadership.
With much gratitude,
Micki Kidder
Vice President for University Enterprises and Events
Dear Nurses and Medical Professionals,
Your friends at NDPD want to thank you for all you do to help keep our community healthy and safe. We always appreciate you, but even more so this year as you are helping us keep COVID-19 at bay. Thank you for all you do and for being out there on the front lines fighting for us!
Sincerely,
Keri Kei Shibata
Chief of Police and Executive Director of Emergency Management
Notre Dame Police Department
First responders, nurses and emergency personnel deserve recognition today and every day. They put their lives on the line, sacrifice for the greater good and commit themselves, heart and soul, to protecting others. Thank you! Please know how much you are appreciated.
Tracy Skibins
Senior Director of Emergency Management
Notre Dame Police Department
I am so grateful to our dedicated medical professionals who, day in and day out, helped keep our students, staff and faculty well and well cared for when needed. To those who are truly on the front line of the University’s COVID response, thank you for your care, your sacrifices, your gifts, your commitment, likely your loss of sleep, and certainly for ensuring our students feel known, loved and served during these challenging pandemic times. We would not be where we are today without your very important service!
Karen Kennedy
Director of Student Centers, Activities and Events
We are blessed to have unbelievable nurses on campus — from those that joined us from the medical outreach team to begin our testing at the stadium last fall, to our new hires that joined the CRU testing site team throughout the pandemic. Each brought their knowledge and skills during a time of so much uncertainty and constant change, showing up every day willing to “gown up” from head to toe to test the ND community and help keep our campus open. I could not be more proud to work alongside such amazingly talented and caring individuals and to be part of the nursing community.
Ami Driscoll
Assistant Director of Medical Outreach and CRU Central Testing Site Operations Lead
To the nurses and emergency personnel who have supported the University’s COVID mitigation efforts at the testing center, University Health Services and ND Wellness Center — THANK YOU! for your compassion, dedication and resilience through the pandemic. You have made all the difference. We could not have accomplished all we have this last year without you!
Best,
Liz Rulli
Associate Vice President for Research
Director, Notre Dame Surveillance Testing Program
Notre Dame Research
The CRU Hotline Team wishes to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to all of those in the nursing profession. Our very special thanks to the nurses here at Notre Dame that have helped us gather the information needed to support the COVID-19 Response Unit via the HERE hotline, and for their unyielding care and support for the students, faculty and staff during times of uncertainty. God bless you all!
The CRU Hotline Team
Lee Town, Hotline Supervisor
Olivia, Sam, Eric and Leslie
COVID-19 Response Unit
Campus Safety and University Operations
I would love to thank all of the nursing staff at UHS, CRU and Contact Tracing. It is a privilege to work with so many wonderful people!!!
Sincerely,
Cindi Schwartz
Interim Director, University Health Services
Thank you ND nurses for everything you have done to keep our ND family HERE and safe! I am forever grateful for your dedication, your compassion and your endless energy. Thank you for your amazing care.
With much love and gratitude,
Annie Geary ’91
Development Coordinator, Regional Development
Department of Development
Dear nurses,
I’d like to give my sincere thanks to all of the nurses on ND campus and around the world for your hard work, especially your extremely challenging work during the pandemic. Your work makes me feel safe and protected.
Thanks and best regards,
Peggy Wang
Professor
Department of Psychology
Thank you for the hard work and long hours you have put in this semester and ALWAYS!
Shelley Way
Senior Administrative Assistant
Band of the Fighting Irish
We thank you for all the long hours away from your family that you have given to us in the pandemic. This time has been like no other before and your commitment to fight the battle on the forefront has kept us strong and going! Thank you; we are forever in debt to you.
Sincerely,
Krupali Krusche
Associate Dean for Research, Scholarship and Creative Work
Director of DHARMA
School of Architecture
It is indeed an honor for me to celebrate our nurses at the University of Notre Dame! Needless to say, your service to this community deserves recognition and gratitudes. My prayer for you is God’s mercies, blessings, love and protection as you strive to keep our community safe and support our well-being! Bravo, bravo, bravo to all the nurses. I celebrate you all!
Justice Chukwu
MGA Student and Research Assistant
Kroc Institute of International Peace Studies
I volunteered as a scribe at the vaccination site and got to watch the nurses in action. They were awesome … in charge, kind and gentle, fun to be with. Just fantastic!
Mary Froning
Sacristy Supply
Basilica of the Sacred Heart
I would like to extend my gratitude and heartfelt thanks to all the nurses and medical staff here at the University of Notre Dame, for the gracious help and assistance during the past year+ .As a father of two dedicated daughters, who are nurses also, I know how much hard work you have ALL contributed to maintain a healthy environment.
Sincerely yours,
Joseph C. Brunner
Building Services/DPAC
I just wanted to appreciate your efforts, especially during this pandemic. I had very pleasant experiences when I got both shots of the vaccine, and you certainly make the whole process a lot more friendly and easier. Again, thank you so much for the vital role you play in keeping our communities healthy and safe.
Chang "Jack" Liu
Graduate Student
Mechanical Engineering
We could not have done any of this without your selflessness, hard work and dedication! We appreciate you!
Jody Sadler
Deputy Athletics Director
Notre Dame Athletics
My mother was a nurse at South Bend Memorial Hospital, so I can honestly say that I have appreciated and admired nurses my entire life. As this past year has shown, and the flu shot and vaccine blitzes on campus clearly demonstrated, our health and well-being depend upon the nursing profession and the individuals who give us such excellent and compassionate care. I worked multiple shifts at both of the blitzes, and when I saw the nurses coming in for their shifts it was like watching the astronauts strolling across the tarmac because they were the people who were going to provide the specialized care that we were all there to support and receive. My gratitude and appreciation to the many nurses who have helped thousands of people across our campus and our community this past year. We owe our lives to you.
And a special shout-out to Nurse Erica, who I had the pleasure of being a scribe for during the vaccine blitz and has led such an interesting and inspiring life!
Elizabeth Zapf
Senior Financial Analyst
You are our heroes! Without you we would not have survived the last 12 months. Thank you for all the sacrifices you had to make to keep our community intact!
Nastia Guimaraes
Project Management Librarian
I would love to thank our nurses. Thank you for being there amongst uncertainty and unknown public support. Thank you for getting us through the pandemic. We wouldn’t have hope without your commitment and optimism.
Jennifer Krauser
Program Manager II
Pulte Institute for Global Development
Just wanted to drop a quick thank-you to all the nurses who have worked so hard during these COVID times! They’ve helped make our kids’ goal of playing a reality and we couldn’t have done it without their help!
Courtney McNamara
Associate Athletic Trainer/Physical Therapist
Sports Medicine, Notre Dame Athletics
Thank you to all nurses and emergency personnel for your selfless service.
Joyce Ndegwa
People Services Associate, Human Resources
Thank you to all the amazing nurses who have worked so hard to keep us safe and for going above and beyond over this past year. It has been an honor to work alongside some of you as we have fought to safely keep our students here on campus. I greatly appreciate all the long hours and many sacrifices you have made. You are true heroes! May God continue to bless you and keep you safe.
Sharon Hayward
Office of Information Technologies
Thank you to the incredible nursing team that has helped the University through these unprecedented times. You serve our students and community when they are vulnerable and ill, helping to ensure that they regain their strength and are able to return to their normal activities. This year there has been so much more stress and volume on the health care systems, but you have remained steadfast in your service of students and our community. Thank you for allowing us to be here on campus with our vibrant Notre Dame community. Without you, this year certainly wouldn’t have been possible.
Andrew Bartolini
Assistant Teaching Professor
College of Engineering
I just wanted to say thank you so much for all that the nurses of Notre Dame do for our students, staff and faculty.
Ben Wilson
Director, Summer Service Learning Program
Center for Social Concerns