Distinguished Alumna of the Year Award
Dr. Susan Onopa Fowler, Nurs ’78
Orlando, Fla.
Susan Fowler views success as less about individual striving and more about “the impact you have made on people and how they have been able to shine.” Currently chief nurse with the Veterans Administration at VA Orlando Health Care, Susan says Marquette’s emphasis on excellence helped prepare her for a career as a nurse leader.
“Marquette laid a foundation for me to be grounded in relationship building and connections,” she says. “I love to network, build new relationships and grow together with my staff.”
One of Susan’s ongoing goals is to make the VA Orlando nursing education department “the best one in the entire VA nursing enterprise,” she says. Her career has included volunteer leadership roles for multiple nursing organizations, including a term as president of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses.
She uses her nursing skills as a volunteer at Run Disney races in Orlando. “I am not only a cheerleader at these events,” she says, “but also provide supportive medical care, even if it just includes Band-Aids, Biofreeze and Tylenol.”
And she also plans to continue research she has conducted on the benefits of inspiring hope in critically ill patients. “Perhaps my journey with hope first began with I got selected to attend Marquette,” Susan says. “My hopes were high and have stayed high my entire nursing career.” It’s a career that has included multiple awards, but this one is particularly meaningful, she says, “because it honors my history as a Marquette nurse.”
Fun Facts:
What is one of your favorite Marquette memories?
Since the drinking age was 18 when I was at Marquette, I remember many weekend nights on Wells Street at the bars. I also remember the Friday afternoon brewery tours!
Name someone (past or present) with whom you'd like to have dinner.
I would like to have dinner with one of the nurses currently in Congress. I am actively engaged in health policy and advocacy and teach courses on this as well.