Susan Urgenson
Susan Urgenson is in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice (BSN to DNP) program at Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing to gain the clinical authority and autonomy needed to deliver functional, personalized care to patients. This ambition began early in her career and deepened through her journey from personal trainer to registered nurse.
After earning a master’s degree in Israeli Social and Political Science on a full merit scholarship in Israel, she traveled back to the U.S., where she earned a second master’s in Exercise Science and Health Promotion from Florida Atlantic while earning a bachelor's from Palm Beach State College.
“My first foray into health care began as a home health aide and translator overseas,” Susan shared. “I returned to the U.S. when my father was diagnosed with cancer, and I needed a new career to support myself and my family.”
With a passion for nutrition and exercise, she became certified as a personal trainer and later licensed as a nurse with a goal of enhancing her coaching skills and recommendations.
“Instead, I found that nurses had limited autonomy and scope of practice compared to nurse practitioners, restricting the impact I could make on my patients’ health,” she explained.
As a results-driven individual focused on ensuring maximum health outcomes, she decided to become a practitioner to deliver the highest quality, patient-centered care.
The Family Nurse Practitioner concentration in the BSN to DNP program, she said, offered the greatest foundation of knowledge, treating people across the spectrum and flexibility for specialization, which enabled her to develop a career that aligns with her professional needs and interests.
Susan is particularly interested in artificial intelligence research in relation to patient care in nursing. She counts Drs. Debarshi Datta, David Newman and Subhosit Ray as mentors in the field of AI and health care data analytics and hopes to take on more responsibility in the AI/ML Club that they founded in the future.
She is also a research assistant for Syracuse, NY-based Karl Sterling’s Neuro Motor Training group (NMT) and his Your Health Matters podcast.
After earning her doctorate in nursing practice, Susan plans to work in the clinical setting, developing her skills as a nurse practitioner, and pursue a Ph.D. involving health care data science and health promotion.
“Some say God broke the mold when he built a nurse’s heart,” Susan noted. “Nurses are known to be caregivers, but we are also innovators and doers, compelled to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our patients.”