At the Yale School of Nursing Commencement and Distinguished Alumni Awards Ceremony on May 17 at the Omni Hotel ballroom, graduates, faculty, alumni, and families gathered to celebrate achievement, service, and the shared vision of “better health for all people.”
Dean Azita Emami opened the ceremony by honoring the graduating class and recognizing alumni whose work is reshaping health care across clinical, educational, research, and policy arenas. “When you graduate as a Yale nurse, you become part of this community of distinguished alumni who are reshaping health care globally,” she said.
Representing the YSN Alumni Association, President Caroline Piselli welcomed the Class of 2026 into the alumni community and introduced the awards presentation led by nominations committee chair Ewelina Gibek.
Decade Award: Elyssa Ely ’17 MSN
The Decade Award, established to recognize alumni who have made an immediate impact within ten years of graduating, was presented to Dr. Elyssa Ely, an adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner specializing in endocrinology, diabetes, and nephrology.
At St. Vincent’s Medical Center, Ely developed an innovative inpatient diabetes consult service and transitions-of-care clinic for high-risk patients. A dedicated educator at YSN and past president of the alumni association, her work centers on chronic disease management and health equity.
In her remarks, Ely reflected on the deeper meaning of nursing practice. “Being a nurse is never really about having all the answers,” she said. “It’s about being present in the moments when answers are unclear… the human connection is what transforms treatment into healing.”
Distinguished Alumni Award: Dilice Robertson ’08 MSN
Dr. Dilice Robertson, a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner and educator, was honored for her leadership across clinical practice, academia, and community engagement. She serves as program director of the PMHNP program at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing and is the founder of a group mental health practice focused on equitable care across the lifespan.
Robertson spoke about the importance of trauma-informed, culturally responsive systems. “If the systems we work within are not designed to truly see people, then even well-intentioned care can miss the mark,” she said. “The communities we serve are not problems to be fixed — they are partners, teachers, and essential voices in shaping better care.”
Distinguished Alumni Award: Caroline Piselli ’15 DNP
Piselli, CEO and founder of Piselli Global Associates and former senior executive at PwC, 3M, and Yale New Haven Health System, was recognized for her global leadership in health system transformation, value-based care, and policy.
Rather than recounting accomplishments, Piselli shared what she called her “P10 Exponential Life Lessons,” emphasizing teamwork, gratitude, perseverance, and joy. Quoting her relative Vince Lombardi, she reminded graduates that “individual commitment to a group effort” is what drives meaningful change.
Student and Faculty Awards
Deputy Dean Tatiana Sadak presented three student awards recognizing scholarship, clinical research, and equity in practice.
The Charles King Jr. Memorial Prize was awarded to Samantha Mensah for her outstanding leadership and scholarship. The Milton and Anne Sidney Prize was presented to Jessicamarie Fox for a clinical project advancing HIV prevention for Black women through improved PrEP access and provider education. The Heather Dawn Reynolds Equity Award was given to Jessie Laurore for her commitment to community-centered birth care and service to underserved populations.
To conclude the ceremony, Mensah returned to the podium to present the Annie Goodrich Award for Excellence in Teaching to Josh Waddell, recognized by students for his passion, clarity, and dedication to lifelong learning.
In closing, Emami reminded the audience that the day’s honorees once sat where the graduates now sat. “Commencement is the end of a long educational journey, and the beginning of a new professional journey,” she said. “I admire each of you for the ways in which you have met challenges and persevered.” The celebration concluded with anticipation for the university-wide commencement the following morning, where the Class of 2026 would formally join the ranks of Yale nurses shaping health care around the world.