Daniel Petrie

Daniel Petrie, a fourth year student in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, exemplifies Saint Mary’s core value of learning. His lifelong passion for learning was solidified after a mission trip to Seoul, South Korea. During the two years he spent as a missionary, Daniel worked in an orphanage with handicapped children. Although he was charged with teaching these children English as a second language, he found joy in learning Korean and his host country’s customs. While abroad, Daniel also learned a more integrative approach to medicine which he aims to incorporate into his own practice. “I learned about different herbs available in medical shops in South Korea, and this sense that a lot of what can bring equilibrium to the body can be found in nature.”

Daniel always knew he wanted to earn a terminal degree in his professional field. For him, the most rewarding part of his doctoral education has been the challenge of learning, “I really enjoy learning something that will change the way I practice or view problems. My learning process has been facilitated by the encouragement and support of faculty who are invested in the success of students.” Daniel notes one of his favorite courses taken in the DNP program was the communication class. Here he learned how to listen to patients to foster open dialogue. “I learned that conversations with patients are the first steps taken in order to make meaningful changes in their lives and their health.”