The Yale School of Nursing welcomed its newest doctoral students to campus September 9 for orientation, bringing together incoming Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and PhD students as they begin the 2026–27 academic year.
The orientation provided students with an opportunity to meet faculty, staff, and fellow doctoral students, learn more about the Yale School of Nursing community, and begin preparing for the academic and professional experiences ahead.
The day began with a welcome from YSN Dean Azita Emami, Associate Dean of Student Life Erin Morelli, Student Services Coordinator Kristin Zanjani, and Associate Director of Student Academic Success Nwanne Njoku. Students then participated in campus tours, activities led by the Office of Student Life, and opportunities to connect with their new classmates.
For incoming DNP students, the program-specific portion of orientation introduced students to YSN’s two Post-Master’s DNP pathways: Executive Healthcare Leadership and Clinical. Joan Kearney, Senior Advisor for Academic Strategy, welcomed students to the DNP Division before students met with program directors Mary Ann Camilleri and Joanne Iennaco to learn more about their respective programs.
The Post-Master’s DNP in Executive Healthcare Leadership prepares nurses to lead change across health systems and advance policy and practice, while the Clinical DNP program prepares nurses for advanced clinical practice and leadership in improving health outcomes and care delivery.
The orientation also gave doctoral students an opportunity to connect beyond their individual programs. A doctoral programs reception brought students, faculty, and staff together to continue conversations and build connections within the broader YSN community.
For students beginning doctoral study, orientation marks the start of an important new chapter, one that will challenge them to deepen their expertise, contribute to nursing knowledge and practice, and help shape the future of health and health care.
YSN extends its appreciation to the faculty, staff, program directors, orientation leaders, and members of the Office of Student Life and academic support teams who helped welcome the incoming doctoral students to the School.
As the new academic year begins, YSN looks forward to supporting these students as they pursue their doctoral education and contribute to the School’s mission of advancing better health for all people.