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GAINESVILLE, Fla. 鈥� On Aug. 9, Anastasia Albanese-O'Neill, B.S.N., M.S.N., Ph.D., a three-time UF Gator Nurse graduate, got the rare honor of pinning her daughter, Cassidy O鈥橬eill, as Cassidy also graduated as a Gator Nurse during the Summer 2024 College of Nursing Pinning Ceremony.

Pinning is a traditional ceremony that symbolically welcomes graduating students to the nursing profession. Many who receive their pins during the summer are part of the 15-month Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. The program is designed for those who already hold a bachelor鈥檚 degree in another field.

But for Albanese-O鈥橬eill and her daughter, their story began when Cassidy was just 5 years old and overheard her mother on the phone urging a friend to join a juvenile diabetes walk. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just 16 months old, the youngster had already endured years of daily insulin injections and frequent blood sugar checks.

Albanese-O鈥橬eill, a marketing executive at the time, continued trying to persuade her friend to participate in the event, asking, 鈥淲hat are you going to do to find a cure for diabetes?鈥�

鈥淎s Cassidy was getting out of the car to go to kindergarten, she asked me, 鈥榃hat are you going to do, mommy?鈥欌�� Albanese-O鈥橬eill recalled.

The question shook her. She pulled into a parking lot to reexamine her career and motivation. It was then she decided to enter health care to try to make a difference.

In 2008, she graduated from UF鈥檚 Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. A master鈥檚 followed, and then a Ph.D. in 2014.

Albanese-O鈥橬eill has worked with patients, participated in research, was a UF faculty member, and now works for Breakthrough T1D, a global Type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organization originally founded as the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

Cassidy O鈥橬eill had no interest in following in her mother鈥檚 footsteps despite having inspired them. But she had her own 鈥淎ha!鈥� moment halfway through her women's studies and political science classes at UF.

鈥淚f you had told me in my freshman year of college, 鈥楩ive years from now you鈥檙e going to be graduating from the nursing program at UF,鈥� I would have said, 鈥楴o way!鈥� I would have told you I鈥檇 be in law school,鈥� she said.

This time, it was mom's turn to inspire her daughter.

鈥淪eeing what she鈥檚 done, I'm just so proud of her,鈥� O鈥橬eill said. 鈥淪he inspires me so much. I was raised in a home where they instilled in me to do something to make a difference and not just work a job. It took me some time, but I finally decided that working with diabetes patients, pediatric diabetes patients, is something I want to do and something where I can make a tangible difference.鈥�

O鈥橬eill also plans to attend graduate school.

鈥淚 love being face-to-face with people, but I am also drawn to the research and clinical advancement side of things. I want to be able to do that as well,鈥� she said.

O鈥橬eill said she hopes to do her graduate work at UF.

鈥淵ou can tell the faculty want us to have the best level of education. We can see it from interactions we have had with students who have studied in other places. It really does feel like another level here. I鈥檝e learned what it means to be a good nurse. Not just the technical side of things, but the compassionate person-centered care. It鈥檚 rigorous, but I wouldn鈥檛 have wanted to get my nursing degree from anyplace else,鈥� she said.

More than 80% of UF B.S.N. students pursue a graduate degree within three years of graduating, and the college is currently ranked No. 10 in the nation for National Institutes of 网红黑料 research funding among public colleges of nursing. Additionally, it has the No. 1-ranked nursing B.S.N program in Florida in 2024, according to U.S. News & World Report.

The mom and daughter got the chance to enjoy the unusual moment because Albanese-O鈥橬eill is a College of Nursing Alumni Council member. The council hosts the pinning ceremonies and members historically pin the graduates.

鈥淚t was such a great honor,鈥� Albanese-O鈥橬eill said. 鈥淚t was so emotional for both of us.鈥�