Samuel Merritt University

Samuel Merritt University Learn more: https://linktr.ee/samuelmerrittuniversity

Founded in 1909, Samuel Merritt University (SMU) is a private, not-for-profit, health sciences institution with campuses in Oakland, Sacramento, Foster City, and Fresno California.

05/29/2026

Put our faculty and staff on the cover of Vogue!📸

Check out ~who~ they wore to commencement.🎓

Flicks from Nurse Appreciation Night (aka the Scrubs & Scrappy game) at the Oakland Ballers! 📸 ✨The nods to nursing incl...
05/29/2026

Flicks from Nurse Appreciation Night (aka the Scrubs & Scrappy game) at the Oakland Ballers! 📸 ✨

The nods to nursing included:
🩺 SMU badge reel and "Nurses Heal" rally towel giveaways
⚾️ SMU College of Nursing's new dean, Dr. Alexa Colgrove Curtis, throwing out the first pitch
🎤 ABSN '26 graduate, Tajana Bevineau, singing the national anthem
🩹 Three mid-game activities involving bandaging "patients", a urinal bottle relay race, and CPR demonstrations

Thank you to the Ballers for making our students, staff, faculty and alumni feel appreciated during Nurses Month. This is what partnership is all about! ❤️

Our next alumni spotlight celebrates Sandra, Jessica, and Cristina Martinez, three sisters who each found their callin...
05/27/2026

Our next alumni spotlight celebrates Sandra, Jessica, and Cristina Martinez, three sisters who each found their calling at SMU's College of Nursing.

Jessica led the way, completing her BSN in 2015 and going on to work in the pre-op and recovery unit at Stanford Health Care. Sandra, the eldest, graduated with her BSN in 2023 and now works as a Children and Family Services Public Health Nurse for the County of San Mateo. And Cristina, the youngest, is currently finishing her ELMSN at SMU Oakland.

The first in her family to attend college, Jessica set the stage for her sisters, but she's quick to credit her sisters for getting her through it. "I feel proud of my sisters for following the same path, and hope I can provide them with the same encouragement they gave me," she says. For Cristina, watching both sisters complete the program reminds her that achieving this goal is possible. "They understand how difficult nursing school is, and they constantly provide guidance, encouragement, and reassurance," she says.

At the heart of their “why” for choosing nursing is a deep commitment to family and care for others. As the eldest of five siblings, caregiving has always come naturally for Sandra. "My background and life experience shaped my desire to help people and provide comfort during difficult times," she reflects. It was witnessing that same strength and compassion in her older sisters that inspired Cristina to follow their lead.

"Nursing is truly the backbone of medicine," says Jessica, "and I'm very proud to be a member of this community."

Candids from the ABSN Pinning Ceremony 📸✨Congratulations to our ABSN graduates! You have officially made it through this...
05/27/2026

Candids from the ABSN Pinning Ceremony 📸✨

Congratulations to our ABSN graduates! You have officially made it through this accelerated nursing program and we know will continue to excel as nurses.❤️

In the summer of 1967, Rondi Crowley, RN, caught a glimpse of what it would be like to work in a hospital while voluntee...
05/22/2026

In the summer of 1967, Rondi Crowley, RN, caught a glimpse of what it would be like to work in a hospital while volunteering as a candy striper at Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley. That summer, she applied for the diploma program at Samuel Merritt Hospital—the start of her 43 year nursing career. From staff nurse to operating room director, Rondi spent most of her career at Methodist Hospital of Sacramento before retiring in 2018.

"The best part of being a nurse is taking care of people," she says. "You often see patients in their most vulnerable state. Physicians are the driver of the patient's care but you, as a nurse, are the go between."

Her advice to new nurses this Nurses Month: remember that healthcare is always changing; don’t be afraid to embrace those changes.

To read her full story, visit: https://smu.pub/4wJzlLu

Our second Nurses Month spotlight is Mario Barandiaran, a 2020 SMU Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate now worki...
05/15/2026

Our second Nurses Month spotlight is Mario Barandiaran, a 2020 SMU Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduate now working as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) at a Level I Trauma Center in Southern California.

He provides anesthesia across inpatient and outpatient cases and finds meaning in supporting patients through their most vulnerable moments. "I love being able to acknowledge their anxiety, create a safe environment, and help take the edge off," he says.

Mario’s path to nursing was shaped by his childhood. Raised by a single mother in a low income household, her strength and selflessness inspired him to honor the sacrifices she made and give back—to care for others the way she cared for him. “Nursing allows me to turn that childhood experience into purpose every single day,” he says.

His advice for new nurses entering the field is the same advice he received while at SMU: be kind to yourself. The first year in the field is challenging, but nursing is a team sport and leaning on your team makes all the difference. “Never forget why you started,” he says. “On the hardest days, that ‘why’ will carry you through.”

SMU Community Night @ the Golden State Valkyries game 💜Last night, several students from our Oakland campus got to atten...
05/15/2026

SMU Community Night @ the Golden State Valkyries game 💜

Last night, several students from our Oakland campus got to attend this “Healthcare Heroes” and “Mental Health Awareness” themed WNBA game. Each student received a complimentary Valkyries-branded scrub top and were given the opportunity to shoot a free-throw after the game! 🏀

Thank you to the Valkyries and our staff for providing our students with a such great time! ✨

May is , and to celebrate, we are spotlighting some of our SMU College of Nursing alumni. Our first spotlight is Angela...
05/13/2026

May is , and to celebrate, we are spotlighting some of our SMU College of Nursing alumni. Our first spotlight is Angela Ball, MPH, RN '97, PHN.

Angela's "why" has always been rooted in service and community. "I became a nurse because I wanted to make a tangible difference in people’s lives, especially those who are often unheard or underserved," she says. "Over time, that 'why' has grown - from caring for individuals at the bedside to leading teams who care for entire communities."

As the current Director of Public Health Nursing in the Alameda County Health Department, Angela's work focuses on prevention, equity, and policy-change. Angela also serves as the Vice President of the Alameda County Management Employees’ Association (ACMEA Union), is a part of the California Chronic Disease Prevention Leadership Team, and is a member of the California Department of Public Health's Office of Health Equity Advisory Committee.

Angela's advice to new grad nurses:
🩺 Ask questions — it’s a sign of strength, not weakness
🩺 Find mentors who challenge and support you
🩺 Give yourself grace as you learn; competence builds gradually
🩺 Remember that every patient, every family, and every community interaction teaches you something

Above all, she reminds new nurses to stay connected to their 'why.' "It will sustain you through the most challenging days and guide your growth throughout your career."

Address

525 12th Street
Oakland, CA
94607

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5am
Tuesday 8am - 5am
Wednesday 8am - 5am
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5am

Telephone

+18006076377

Website

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