Chaminade University of Honolulu

Nursing & Health Professions

Alumna Spotlights Importance of Public Health

Alexandrea Cole Patino ’24 enjoyed studying Nursing at Chaminade and excelled in her studies.

But after clinching a prestigious summer research opportunity at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore—with the help of Chaminade’s Undergraduate Research & Pre-Professional Programs office—Patino realized her passion was addressing society’s health challenges in a different way.

“I loved how research questions tied into so many other areas—science, exploration, demographics,” she said. “I went to my Nursing program advisor and explained what I was thinking. He was so helpful and helped me transition into the Public Health program at Chaminade and I wholeheartedly never looked back. Public health was absolutely the right choice for me.”

In pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science in Public Health, Patino found similarities with her advanced studies in nursing. She even realized that her experiences in patient care were valuable, including for a competitive population health internship she secured at Hawaii Pacific Health.

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She said Undergraduate Research & Pre-Professional Programs also helped her secure that opportunity, and she was grateful to find real-world applications for what she was learning in her classes. “We were doing hypertension monitoring,” she said. “It was all about public health.”

National Public Health Week is April 7 to 13 and for Patino, who is a fellow with Elevate Us Studios, it’s an opportunity to underscore the critical importance of public health in a world still recovering from the impacts of the COVID pandemic. She said public health can inform policy, research and patient care—and ultimately help build stronger, healthier communities.

As a fellow with Elevate Us, a national nonprofit, Patino is focused on developing a culturally-inclusive menstrual health education course for Hawai’i schools. During her internship at Johns Hopkins, Patino participated in research on menstrual health and she also explored the topic for Chaminade’s Summer Research Institute, an undergraduate research internship.

Patino said menstrual health education is a personal research passion in part because of her personal experiences. When Patino had her first period, at age 12, “I thought I was dying.” She remembers struggling to get answers about what she was experiencing.

Her goal is to prevent other girls from going through what she did, she said.

While she completes her fellowship, Patino is also looking for other employment opportunities, including with government and not-for-profits. She hopes to secure a job in public health research.

In the meantime, she’s championing Chaminade’s Public Health program.

She says in addition to small class sizes, the program features an “integrated, close-knit community” led by professors who “truly want to see you succeed.” She added, “They have your interests at heart and they want to encourage you to pursue opportunities.”

“I wouldn’t trade the experiences I had at Chaminade for anything.”

Nursing Students Mark White Coat Ceremony

Chaminade University’s School of Nursing and Health Professions held its annual White Coat Ceremony on Saturday, February 22 to recognize 76 nursing students as they begin their clinical education.

As part of the tradition, Chaminade Nursing faculty assist students with donning their white medical coats.

The gathering is considered a rite of passage in a person’s journey toward a career in nursing.

After receiving their coats, students recited the International Council of Nurses pledge, committing to uphold nursing ethics and provide exemplary care to patients.



Dr. Lorin Ramocki, RN, interim dean of the Chaminade School of Nursing and Health Professions, said the white coat celebration bridges classroom learning with clinical practice.

“This is a really exciting point in their career and this is really their first opportunity to care for patients in the clinical setting,” she said.

Ramocki added that students are preparing to enter the profession as a critical shortage of nurses continues.

“We’re hoping with each graduating class that many of these nursing students will stay here in the islands and work in our healthcare facilities to help care for our patients,” she said.

Following the ceremonies, students received lei from family and friends outside of the Sullivan Family Library.

Nursing Students Honored in Pinning Ceremony

In a “heartfelt tradition,” 21 Nursing students at Chaminade gathered with loved ones Dec. 7 for a Pinning Ceremony, which marks the ceremonial completion of their bachelor’s degree journeys and the start of their professional careers.

During the gathering, students received their nursing stoles and pins.

They also recited the International Council for Nurses Pledge, promising to:

“Care for the sick with all the skills and understanding I possess, without regard to race, creed, color, politics or social status, sparing no effort to conserve life, to alleviate suffering, and to promote health.”

Hermaine Beltran ’24 was among the students honored.

“I’m feeling very happy, very exhilarated, very grateful for this moment,” said Beltran, who will be a nurse in the mother-baby unit at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children. “We worked very hard to be here.”

Chaminade President Lynn Babington, Ph.D., a nurse herself, said the students are launching their careers amid a significant need for nurses in Hawai’i and nationally.

“We are proud that our students are answering the call,” Babington said.

She added, “The pinning ceremony is a heartfelt tradition that symbolizes students’ hard work and dedication throughout their coursework and clinical training.”

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Chaminade School of Nursing and Health Professions Interim Dean Lorin Ramocki explained that the roots of the Nursing Pinning Ceremony tradition date back to the 1860s when Florence Nightingale, known as the founder of modern nursing, was awarded the Red Cross of St. George.

Pinning ceremonies grew to mark the start of a nurse’s career.

Tree Planting Honors School of Nursing

Kukui trees are traditionally a symbol of knowledge and enlightenment

There’s a new addition to the indigenous flora on Chaminade’s verdant campus.

In a special ceremony Nov. 22, University President Lynn Babington, Ph.D. joined School of Nursing and Health Professions students, faculty and staff along with others across the University to plant a kukui tree and dedicate a special plaque.

The inscription on the plaque begins with a Hawaiian proverb: “Ka malu hālau loa o ke kukui.”

The saying, which means “the long shelter of the kukui tree,” refers to the way in which a healthy grove of kukui trees can provide adequate shelter—much like a house. Kukui or candlenut trees are also a traditional symbol of knowledge because the nuts were once used to burn for light.

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The plaque’s inscription continues: “This kukui tree is planted in dedication to the faculty, staff and students within the School of Nursing and Health Professions.”

Chaminade Provost Lance Askildson said in planting the kukui tree, “we are honoring the strong foundations of Chaminade’s School of Nursing and Health Professions while recognizing our shared responsibility to ensure its continued success and growth in the years to come.”

“At Chaminade, we are incredibly proud to be preparing nursing and public health leaders who are inspired to serve their communities and help build a healthier Hawai’i.“

PHOTO GALLERY:

Nursing Students Volunteer at Lanaʻi Health Fair

Students shared health messages on safety at home and nutrition

Chaminade Nursing students traveled to Lana’i recently to share important health prevention messaging with community members. Along the way, they also got some lessons of their own about the unique challenges that residents of rural communities face in accessing healthcare and other services.

A group of eight students, members of Chaminade’s Student Nurses’ Association, made the trek to Lana’i on Nov. 9 with Assistant Professor Jennifer Nafarrete, Ed.D. for the Lāna‘i Kinā‘ole Health Fair.

During the daylong event, Chaminade students broke up into two groups, with one focused on sharing information on fire and fall prevention safety at home and the other focused on nutrition messaging.

Association President Presh Coloma ’25 said students were excited to meet with members of rural communities on Lana’i. The island is home to about 3,000 people and has limited options for healthcare.

“They don’t have access to many resources,” Coloma said. “Our audience was from little kids to the elderly. It definitely tested our Nursing students really well because attendees had so many questions.”

For example, Coloma said, one attendee wanted to know how to determine if the foods in the local grocery store were diabetes-friendly. Another attendee asked for information about specific resources on Lanai’i, requiring students to do some homework of their own so that they could help.

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Coloma said she spoke to a resident who had to travel to O’ahu regularly for cancer treatment.

“Patients like her lack medication adherence because they don’t have those resources,” she said.

Nafarrete said in addition to speaking to event attendees, the Chaminade students got the chance to make the rounds to chat with other organizations represented at the health fair. “They learned a lot about rural access to health care,” she said, adding the group is hoping to return soon.

In the meantime, though, the Chaminade Student Nurses’ Association is staying busy.

On the same day that students in the group traveled to Lana’i, another cadre volunteered to help manage the first-aid tent at the 2024 Hawai’i Parkinson’s Walk. And students in the association will also be running the first-aid tent at the Salvation Army’s Thanksgiving Day dinner at Blaisdell Center.

Blessing Hands That Heal

The annual ceremony is a reminder of the power of compassionate care

Students pursuing careers in nursing and other healthcare professions gathered October 18 for a beloved tradition at Chaminade: the St. Luke’s Blessing of the Hands ceremony. The observance honors those pursuing lives of service and serves as a poignant reminder of the power of compassionate care.

Rooted in the Christian tradition, the ceremony is observed every year on the Feast Day of St. Luke.

“Luke was an evangelist and a physician,” said Fr. Chris Wittmann, who presided over the blessing ceremony. “If you’re looking for God’s compassion, the Gospel of Luke is a good place to start.

He added, “So it is apt to celebrate this today.”

The blessing of the hands is a time-honored tradition that seeks to acknowledge the emotional and spiritual dimensions of patient care, and honor the commitment and resilience of healthcare workers.

St. Luke's Blessing_cn1_500x333
Sr. Malia Wong, Fr. Chris Wittman and Br. Edward Brink anointed the hands of nursing students and other healthcare providers during the annual St. Luke’s Blessing of the Hands.
Nursing students and other healthcare providers had their hands anointed during the annual St. Luke's Blessing of the Hands.
Nursing students and other healthcare providers had their hands anointed during the annual St. Luke’s Blessing of the Hands.
Nursing students and other healthcare providers had their hands anointed during the annual St. Luke's Blessing of the Hands.
Nursing students and other healthcare providers had their hands anointed during the annual St. Luke’s Blessing of the Hands.
Isaiah Atalig ’25 recounted a medical mission to Costa Rica this past summer and the impact the trip had on him.
Isaiah Atalig ’25 recounted a medical mission to Costa Rica this past summer and the impact the trip had on him.
Nursing students and other healthcare providers attended the annual St. Luke's Blessing of the Hands on October 18.
Nursing students and other healthcare providers attended the annual St. Luke’s Blessing of the Hands on October 18.
Nursing major Tia Kaʻiulani Tabisola ’25 has her hands anointed by Fr. Chris Wittmann during the St. Luke's Blessing of the Hands on October 16.
Nursing major Tia Kaʻiulani Tabisola ’25 has her hands anointed by Fr. Chris Wittmann during the St. Luke’s Blessing of the Hands on October 16.

“Bless those who are involved with taking care of others,” said Bro. Edward Brink, vice president for Mission and Rector. He added that as Chaminade is the only Catholic university in the islands and serves the entire Pacific region, “it’s important that we continue this tradition.”

At its core, organizers said, the blessing of the hands ceremony serves as a reminder that the hands that administer care are not only instruments of healing but also vessels of compassion and empathy.

Nursing student Tia Kaʻiulani Tabisola ’25, a certified nurse’s aide, was among those who attended the ceremony. She said the gathering reminded her why she wants to pursue a career helping others.

Tabisola recounted the story of a difficult patient who she struggled to assist.

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After spending some time with him, he finally spoke and asked her if they could pray for him and his mom. They both ended up crying. “This is why I want to become a nurse,” Tabisola said. “I want to break down barriers and eliminate stigmas against the vulnerable.”

Isaiah Atalig ’25 is majoring in Forensic Sciences at Chaminade and aspires to be a doctor.

He said he takes the notion of healing to heart.

“Caring for people is my calling,” said Atalig, who is from Guam.

Atalig said in Chamorro culture, just like in healthcare professions, putting others ahead of yourself is paramount. “You care for neighbors, strangers, family, and the sick and vulnerable,” he said.