WVU School of Nursing student accepted into SURE program

John Sulkowski, a sophomore in the WVU School of Nursing, has been accepted into the 2023 Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences (SURE) program.

The program, held by WVU from May 30 to July 28, targets students interested in graduate school and research/creative work within their discipline or a related discipline.

“I applied for the SURE program to gain experience in the areas of research and community engagement,” Sulkowski said. “Over the past academic year, I have been working with Dr. Angel Smothers to expand nurse-led access to care in different counties of West Virginia, and through the SURE program I will be able to extend our mentoring partnership.

“Through the opportunity of the SURE program, I will be able to truly make a difference by being a part of a larger cause.”

Smothers said this is only the second time in the history of the SURE program that the WVU School of Nursing will be hosting a nursing student as the recipient of one of the limited SURE spots. Emma Pittman was selected for the program in 2022.

“We are honored to mentor undergraduate students in the areas of research and evidence based scholarly work,” she added.

For Sulkowski, he wanted to become a nurse because he grew up hearing his mom’s stories as a nurse.

“Without her, I do not think I would have considered nursing as my career goal. My oldest sister is also a nurse and watching her go through schooling reinforced my desire to work towards my goal,” Sulkowski said.

After graduation, Sulkowski hopes to put his skills to the test in the ICU, as there are complex patient care needs. After gaining experience in the field, he would like to become a Nurse Practitioner or a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. He is also interested in teaching nursing in the future.

Sulkowski is confident that he will gain expertise in the area of community engagement and scholarly work this summer as a SURE participant.

For more information about the SURE program or other undergraduate research opportunities, visit undergraduateresearch.wvu.edu. To learn more about community engagement within the WVU School of Nursing, contact Dr. Angel Smothers at angel.smothers@hsc.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

CONTACT: Wendy Holdren
Director of Communications and Marketing
WVU School of Nursing
304-581-1772; wendy.holdren@hsc.wvu.edu