Our April School of Nursing Student Spotlight features one of our Bachelor of Science in Nursing students, Matthew. On campus Matthew is the Vice President of the Student Nursing Association at Oakland University (SNAOU), Member of the School of Nursing (SON) Dean’s Circle, Student Representative SON Board of Visitors and a tutor for pathophysiology and pharmacology.
When Matthew was younger, his grandma had been in and out of hospitals. During this time, she experienced several complications and through it all he witnessed firsthand the dedicated and compassionate care the nursing team provided. Matthew’s grandma knew that he would make an amazing nurse and mentored him in that direction. Sadly, she passed before he entered Oakland University, but she knew nursing would be his future.
When asked who has made an impact on his time here at OU, Matthew says “Dr. Baumann has been a great mentor and has taught me how to mentor others.” Matthew joined the Oakland University Tutoring Center in 2021 and has helped hundreds of nursing students to pass patho, lower anxiety and gain confidence.
Dr. Baumann says “Matthew has been a leader since his first semester of nursing school. He took advantage of his extreme intelligence and superb ability to acquire knowledge to transfer it to his peers. He was always a leader of a study group and role model for many. Matthew has been active on campus helping with many important SON activities making his presence known and appreciated.”
Off campus, Matthew credits his brother, Jacob, who has always inspired him to go above and beyond, and his good friend, Adam Gasiewski. He says, “Adam is like a brother to me and motivates me to work hard - combined these two are the best role models.” Matthew also thanks his parents for “supporting me throughout my entire journey, all that I have would not be possible without them.”
Looking at his time at OU, Matthew says, “being a nursing student has humbled me to what nursing is and what it entails. It has made me a better communicator while interacting with so many people and disciplines.” He went on to say, “Tutoring peers and younger cohorts has made me a better educator and has allowed me to take the lead.”
Matthew’s advice to new students, “my greatest advice, if possible, work in the hospital. I started working in the hospital my first year and that experience provided me with a good foundation of what is taught in the classroom, it brings everything together.”
Matthew is a Distinguished Scholar and the recipient of the Macomb County Tennis Association (senior year of high school) and the OU Legacy Scholarships.
After graduation, Matthew will be working for Corewell Health in Troy, Michigan in the medical surgical ICU. His long-term goals would be to eventually go back to school to obtain a doctoral nursing degree.
April, 2024
By Kristen Damiano
