Public Health Nursing Scholar Maria Morris finds her calling at UK

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 29, 2026) — The University of Kentucky’s Public Health Nursing Scholars (PHNS) program prepares future leaders who can bridge clinical care and community health across the Commonwealth. For Maria Morris, now entering her second year at UK, that mission feels personal. Offered jointly by the College of Public Health and the College of Nursing, the program gives students a pathway to serve Kentucky through both bedside care and population‑level impact.

Maria was born and raised in Wilder, Kentucky, with access to Cincinnati’s strong health systems. But throughout her childhood, she also spent time in communities where her grandmother and father were raised, places where access to care, education and everyday resources looked different from what she experienced at home. As she got older, those contrasts became clearer. 

“Seeing the differences in access to care, education and opportunities between communities helped shape my perspective and sparked my interest in public health,” she said.  

Her early exposure to healthcare came from home as well. Maria’s mother previously worked as a pharmacist at the University of Cincinnati Hospital, a role that introduced Maria to the world of patient care at a young age. During her senior year of high school, Maria completed an internship at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Northern Kentucky. Shadowing multiple departments helped her understand the clinical side of patient care and how it connects to broader community needs. 

Those experiences strengthened her commitment to improving health outcomes in communities with limited resources. But it was her first year at UK, immersed in the PHNS program, that showed her how deeply public health and nursing overlap. 

“When I discovered PHNS, it immediately stood out to me because I did not think a program like this really existed,” she said. “It felt like the perfect fit because it aligned with both my personal values and the kind of impact I hope to make in healthcare.” 

The PHNS program gives students early exposure to public health coursework, mentorship from faculty in the College of Public Health, and a structured path to nursing, a combination that resonated deeply with Maria. Students in the PHNS program earn two degrees, a Bachelor of Public Health and Bachelor of Science in Nursing, in 4.5 years.  

Public health nurses are on the front lines of keeping communities safe. They work to prevent disease, promote everyday health and safety, and support communities before, during and after events such as natural disasters or outbreaks.  

The PHNS curriculum helps students understand how nurses can contribute to prevention, education and community‑based solutions, not just bedside care. As fully licensed nurses, public health nurses can work in any clinical setting, but they are uniquely positioned to succeed in roles that focus on community health, such as local health departments, government agencies, school systems, community clinics and nonprofit organizations. 

Maria said her favorite part of the PHNS program has been the sense of community, being surrounded by peers who share her passion for helping others and faculty who are committed to Kentucky’s health.   

“It’s been incredibly motivating,” she said. “The relationships I’ve built have made my experience both meaningful and rewarding.”    

That sense of belonging encourages her to get more involved. Next year, she will serve as a treasurer of the Student Public Health Association, helping other students connect with public health on campus and in the community.  

"I hope to inspire more students to find a place where they can feel connected and make a difference,” she said. 

The program also has helped her understand how public health nursing can address issues that affect entire communities, especially in areas with limited access to care.   

“It’s shown me that nurses can play a major role in prevention, education and connecting people with support systems that improve long-term health outcomes across Kentucky,” she said.  

Maria’s long-term goal is to use public health nursing to improve access to care, promote health education and support rural communities across Kentucky.  

“My earlier experiences made me realize how important it is for people to feel seen, supported and cared for within their communities,” she said. “Even a superficially small impact in public health makes immense progress in untangling the complexities of the field.”