CU Nursing - Spring/Summer 2019 - 17

G R A D U AT I O N

GET TO KNOW

Jamie L.
Mignano

BSN, MSN, MPH and now PhD

After a family member died of AIDS in the early 1990s, Jamie Mignano distinctly

remembers wanting to work in HIV from that moment forward. At the time, Mignano's parents educated her about
the stigma toward marginalized populations, like the LGBTQ community and people living with HIV.
Having been drawn to the field of HIV, Mignano has spent most of her professional career at the Institute of
Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine developing programs to reach people at risk for or
living with HIV. She holds a BSN, MSN, and MPH - from Johns Hopkins University - and graduated in December
with her PhD from CU Nursing. Currently, she is executive director of an HIV and Hepatitis C outreach organization.
"I love working in HIV because it involves intersections between policy, advocacy, community mobilization
and direct service to patients. Most people that work in my field are dedicated and passionate about giving a
voice to those that do not always have one," said Mignano.
Mignano's PhD dissertation identified community and individual characteristics of persons living with HIV
(PLWH) who returned to their HIV provider after a gap in care. "My overall goal is to contribute to decreased
incidence of HIV through more widespread identification and treatment of the disease in urban communities
disproportionately impacted by HIV," said Mignano.
Mignano chose CU Nursing for her PhD because, "I was motivated by the work that I was doing to be more
equipped to be the best version of myself."

Peruvian
Childhood
Influences
Karagozian

vaccinating. My desire for helping others
grew from watching the nurses and seeing
how their dedication improved people's
lives." Her enthusiasm drove her to
earn a Bachelor's degree in nursing
at the National University of San

By Katherine Phillips

Agustin of Arequipa, Peru.

"I have wanted to be a nurse ever since

"It was my dream to continue my

I was a child," said Betzabe Karagozian.

education in the nursing program

Growing up in a small town in Peru,

at CU - one of the best and most

Betzabe Karagozian saw nurses knocking

prestigious universities in the US and the

on doors, educating people about

world. I took a risk and bet on myself to

vaccines and their health.

give my best to succeed."

According to Karagozian, "My passion

With a goal of becoming an ICU

grew from watching these nurses educate

nurse and eventually attaining her NP,

and vaccinate. I was so excited about what

Karagozian is currently working as a

I saw, that when I played with my friends I

PRN-CNA and studying for the nursing

always wanted to play the nurse who was

licensing exam, NCLEX.

Betzabe Karagozian
hiking with her dog,
Nieve, at Pitkin
Lake in Colorado.

Spring/Summer 2019

CU Nursing - Spring/Summer 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CU Nursing - Spring/Summer 2019