Justin Gill, who earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing in 2013 at University of Washington Bothell, is now a student in the doctor of nursing practice program at Yale where he expects to graduate in 2019.
Gill says his classes at UW Bothell reinforced his critical thinking and professional development to consider broader concepts in health care and nursing.
“These concepts help strengthened my understanding about the health care system as a whole,” he says. “It also allowed me to provide a better level of care for my patients by treating them one-on-one, and by advocating for them through institutional and legislative policy change.”
In leadership positions, Gill has been vice president of the Nursing Students of Washington State and a health policy advocacy fellow with the American Nurses Association. He currently serves on the Legislative/Health Policy Council at the Washington State Nurses Association. In 2014, Gill received the ANA Nurse Advocate award, which is presented to one nurse in the nation each year that promotes advocacy and legislative change.
Gill’s academic background also includes an associate’s in nursing at Whatcom Community College (’12) and master’s in science in nursing from Georgetown University (’15).
A Burlington resident, Gill completed his clinical work at Skagit Regional Health in Mount Vernon and PeaceHealth in Bellingham. In Washington State, nurse practitioners can serve as primary care providers.
“I enjoy the privilege and challenge of practicing in primary care to improve the overall health of my local community,” he says.
Gill says his focus at Yale centers around political advocacy in nursing and how to empower front-line health providers to promote legislative change.
“I hope to possibly use these skills someday to work in government affairs or in health policy development,” he says.
