As Valentine's Day approaches, we celebrate the heartwarming journeys of three couples whose love stories began at Case Western Reserve University's Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing.
Each couple's story is a testament to how CWRU's nurturing environment fosters professional excellence and sometimes love!
The School of Nursing's Development and Alumni Relations team continues a tradition of sending these couples a gorgeous bundle of fresh pears to celebrate their relationship and show appreciation for their time at CWRU. Read more about our School of Nursing Pears for Pairs:
Tim and Roseann Hausmann
From sharing meal swipes to marriage, Roseann (CWR '10) and Tim's (CWR '10) journey from nursing classmates to life partners has blossomed through the challenges of demanding careers and the joys of family life.
Inspired by her grandmother's career and love for babysitting and caring for younger children, Roseann chose to pursue pediatric nursing. Tim, who started his healthcare career as an EMT in high school, found nursing to be the perfect fit to advance his medical knowledge further.
After graduating from the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing in 2010, both embarked on their careers at the University of Kentucky, with Tim working in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Roseann in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). “Working the same 12-hour shifts, nights and weekends made it easier to cope with the challenging schedule and to take vacations!" they shared.
"We both look back fondly on our education from CWRU, particularly our preceptorships, as having prepared us very well to be new grads working in the ICU. This strong foundation set the stage for all that came after," they shared, emphasizing the lasting impact of their education at the School of Nursing.
Graduate school brought them back to their home state of Pennsylvania, where their career paths diverged. Tim pursued training as a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), while Roseann became a pediatric nurse practitioner. Tim joined the Army, which included a deployment to Iraq. Today, he works as a CRNA at Penn Chester County Hospital, while Roseann is a hepatology nurse practitioner at Nemours Children's Hospital Delaware.
One of Roseann's favorite memories from their time at the School of Nursing with Tim occurred during a pediatric clinical rotation. Tim was caring for a newborn, and the instructor, Laurene, came out and asked, "Can someone go help Tim with that baby? He might have a stroke if they don't stop crying.” "With two children of our own later, we still laugh about that, and Tim is much more comfortable around a crying baby now," said Roseann.
Looking to the future, after moving every three to four years for new jobs, graduate school and the Army, Roseann and Tim hope to settle down in one place, advance in their careers and raise their family.
When asked what advice they have for future nursing professionals, they shared, "The School of Nursing will prepare you well with the knowledge to be an exceptional nurse. More importantly, lean on the friends you will make; they will be a huge support as you adjust to practice."
Dave and Courtney Gordon
From a serendipitous meeting during nursing school orientation to impactful careers, Courtney (NUR '09, '11) and Dave (NUR '09, '11) found the School of Nursing to be not only a professional launchpad for a world of career opportunities but one that set the stage for a life together.
"We became fast friends," they recall—a friendship that evolved into a lifelong partnership. Both were drawn to nursing from a young age, driven by their empathetic natures and desire to help others.
Courtney works as a geriatric and palliative care nurse practitioner (NP) at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where she has been part of the division of geriatrics and the School of Nursing since 2011.
Dave is a dual-certified adult and acute care NP with the UCSF Lung Transplant program. He became the senior NP in 2011 and has since launched two admitting inpatient services and expanded the program to include nine additional NPs. Dave also works with learning health systems as a LEAN coach and is passionate about quality improvement projects. Several publications showcase his work.
Their shared profession has been a source of strength for Courtney and Dave. "We are very aware of each other's challenges and can be a constant support for one another," they explain. Although both are in nursing, their career paths differ—Courtney in outpatient and palliative care and Dave in acute and ICU care—leading to engaging dinner table conversations.
"Nursing is a rewarding profession filled with many ups and downs. Having a partner who understands the daily toll is a blessing," they shared. "COVID-19 and surviving the pandemic with two small children was especially hard, and we could not have done it without one another."
Reflecting on their time at the School of Nursing together and fondest memories, they shared, "Being young, spending all of our time together studying, going to class, and the excitement that comes with new careers, new relationships and embarking on our future. Being able to celebrate all our accomplishments including Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) together."
Their advice to nursing students is—"Be open-minded—nursing can take you in many directions. Find what excites you and makes you happy. Your time at CWRU is short (though it might feel long), so take advantage of all the connections and opportunities it provides and enjoy it. Our time there is some of our best memories."
Scott and Karen Stephan
Scott (CWR '94) and Karen (NUR '90) first crossed paths in a PICU, unaware that their shared passion for nursing would one day lead to a lifelong partnership.
For Karen, nursing was always more than a career—it was a calling. "I cannot remember a time that I did not want to be a nurse," she recalls, inspired by her parents. Her father, a physician who graduated from Case Western Reserve University Medical School in 1937, and her mother, a nurse, instilled in her a passion for caregiving from an early age. After earning her Master’s in Nursing from the School of Nursing, she helped shape the newly established Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program while also pursuing her pediatric nurse practitioner certification.
Scott had not initially considered nursing, but a high school guidance counselor encouraged him to apply for a scholarship to CWRU—an opportunity that changed his life. He first met Karen during his clinical rotations when he was assigned to her first clinical group at the Cleveland Clinic’s PICU.
"I still remember the feeling I got the first time I saw him," Karen said. At the time, Karen was an instructor, and Scott a student. Professional boundaries kept their connection on the sidelines, preventing it from becoming anything more. Eventually, their lives took separate paths.
Several years later, Karen left her teaching position and returned to the Cleveland Clinic as a clinical nurse specialist. At the same time, Scott worked as a nurse in the PICU. When their paths crossed again, they reconnected personally, and their friendship deepened into something more. They married and embarked on a life together that took them across the country—from Texas, Florida and Georgia.
Scott eventually transitioned from nursing to a career with the FBI, specializing in healthcare fraud. Meanwhile, Karen remained devoted to pediatric care, specializing in cardiac surgery as a pediatric nurse practitioner throughout her 37-year career. Although their professional paths diverged, their shared background in nursing allowed them to understand each other’s challenges. “Working together has always been our greatest asset,” Karen says. Scott agrees, “Understanding each other’s jobs was a crucial aspect of our relationship.”
One of their biggest challenges was balancing demanding careers while raising their two daughters, often working opposite 12-hour shifts to manage childcare and school logistics. 'It kept us busy and always running, but we always made it work,” Scott said.
Now retired, the couple fondly remembers their time at the School of Nursing. Karen treasures her memories of teaching and the friendships she formed with fellow instructors, while Scott remembers the camaraderie he experienced with his classmates and mentors.
Reflecting on their careers, they offer words of wisdom for future nurses: "Always go for it. Whatever your hopes and dreams, live them," Karen advises. "Take responsibility and do your job; this will get you far in life." Scott echoes her encouragement, adding, "Study hard, work hard, ask lots of questions, and find good mentors. Look for opportunities to go where you want to be. You may not get there right away, but nursing allows you many different avenues to pursue. You might even find true love!"