Two USF College of Nursing Students Serve on Leadership Board

USF College of Nursing students Anthony Suda and Sean Sharp have been selected to serve on the USF Health Executive Student Leadership Board (ESLB).

The board is a group of current USF Health students from all academic disciplines who serve as official student representatives. Members hold two-semester terms and act as a student advisory for Shared Student Services and USF Health leadership.

Suda, a pre-nursing student, said his experience on the board has been meaningful and rewarding.

 “It has been the best experience I’ve had thus far since coming to USF, so I’m really happy and proud to be part of it,” he said. “Through ESLB, we are the faces of USF Health. We represent the different respective colleges of USF Health, so we are a voice for our respective student bodies.”

Since joining the board, Suda took part on the planning committee for Multicultural Week, participated in a conference with the four deans within USF Health, and assisted in the ribbon-cutting for WELL Tech, an IT support desk.

Suda said he hopes to help bridge the gap between pre-health students, who mostly reside on the main USF campus, with the student resources available to them on the USF Health side of campus.

 “Every week it’s been something new,” Suda said. “Essentially the experience on ESLB has allowed me to be visible as a pre-health student, because I realized that there isn’t a lot of that.”

Fellow ESLB member Sharp, a second-degree nursing student, wants to bring an interdisciplinary focus onto the board. Sharp is a practicing chiropractor working to become a nurse practitioner and sees patients from both ends of the spectrum.

 “I’m a big believer in working with other providers and other disciplines for the better – to treat the patient from a holistic standpoint,” he said.

Sharp said his time on the board offers him a balance between volunteerism, leadership, and student engagement.  His official duties have included giving USF Health campus tours to prospective students and participating in the homecoming parade float.

 “It’s been great,” Sharp said. “It’s a great opportunity to take part in leadership, to help represent the College of Nursing.”

Story by Elizabeth L. Brown, USF College of Nursing