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Alumni Impact
Samuel Merritt University alumni are transforming the experience of care in local communities and around the globe.
Our graduates leave SMU prepared to excel in their fields and specialty areas of choice. They are successful healthcare practitioners and educators who work in a variety of positions and settings that impact their communities. Read about SMU alumni success below, or connect with alumni and friends here.
SMU graduates' licensure and certification pass rates exceed state and national averages. And our reputation for academic and clinical excellence means our alumni are heavily recruited and have one of the highest rates of employment within one year of graduation. You’ll find SMU graduates providing patient care, conducting research, and teaching in Northern California, across the state, and around the world. Here’s a look at some of the places our graduates work.
At SMU, student success is about more than grades. It’s about what our alumni do with their education. Most address our nation’s pressing need for health care practitioners who will improve the health and well-being of our communities. Our high-achieving alumni exemplify what can happen when students apply their knowledge to meet significant health care challenges.
By Samantha Bronson, Samuel Merritt University Magazine Fiona Langley, MSN-CRNA ’15, knows her patients feel stressed and vulnerable as they’re being prepped for surgery. She’s seen patients shut down...
Samuel Merritt University has been named the best college in California for getting a job by career research website Zippia. SMU was recognized for its 94.5% employment rate 10 years after graduation...
Nataly Kuznetsov (BSN ’09) has worked as a disaster relief nurse ever since graduating from Samuel Merritt University, but even that didn’t prepare her for the wildfires that swept across Northern...
Samuel Merritt University (SMU) Professor Pamela Minarik, Ph.D., has been fascinated by why people think and feel the way they do since she was in high school. She also knew from an early age that she...
With parents who were civil rights activists, social justice was discussed frequently during Alice Jacobs Vestergaard’s childhood. Just as influential on her life was her heritage as the daughter and...
Daniella Johnson’s longtime interest in global health led her to work as a nurse in Morocco and Eastern Europe. When she wanted to make it into a career that would have a greater impact, she enrolled...
What are you doing now? I have worked as a nurse for 55 years in various positions including pediatrics, medical-surgical, and ICU/CCU. I started several new programs including a cardiac rehab program...
What are you doing now? I am currently working as a CRNA (Certified Nurse Anesthetist) at Kaiser South Sacramento. What is your fondest memory from your time at SMU? My fondest memory is the group of...
SMU provides opportunities for professional networking, reconnecting with classmates, and partnering with, promoting, and supporting the University in a variety of ways including social and professional development events.
Learn MoreWe offer alumni personal assistance with their job or internship searches and help them explore the SMU's online resources to prepare for life after SMU.
Visit OfficeReignite your passion for healthcare and advance your career with Samuel Merritt University's Alumni application for the 2024-2025 academic year. We invite you to return and enhance your expertise with our cutting-edge programs designed for professionals looking to deepen their knowledge and impact. Join us again at SMU and continue your journey of excellence in healthcare education.
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