Shaping the future of health care

In 20 years as a nurse, Sayda Major ('06 MSN) has developed another passion: teaching.

Each semester, Major, an acute-care nurse practitioner at Parkland Hospital, serves as a preceptor to two nursing students. In the summer, she takes on four.

"Most preceptors take on one student," explains Major, who is also a clinical instructor in the College of Nursing and Health Innovation. "I take two at a time because there's such a need."

Last September, in recognition of her devotion to mentoring and teaching students, the Texas Nurse Practitioner Association named Major Preceptor of the Year.

"I love to see a student who is completely green at the beginning learn to be a provider," she says. "They have the confidence and understanding to become a unit provider and are actually functioning like seasoned providers and practitioners. These people are going to take care of me later."