Healing In Uniform: Nursing Alumnae Who Serve
Two of Norfolk State’s nursing alumnae, Captain Kirsten Dickerson ’11 and Major Enesha Hicks ’11, have answered a higher call, serving in the military where they combine clinical expertise with unwavering dedication to care for those on the front lines. Both were in the Nursing Program under Dr. Bennie Marshall, then-chair of the Department of Nursing and Allied Health.
Captain Dickerson is a Clinical Nurse at the 31st Medical Group, Aviano Air Base, Italy, where she plays a vital role in enhancing combat medical readiness. Inspired by her elementary school nurse, she attended Norfolk State University to receive her Associate Degree in Nursing and Capella University for her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. In January 2022, Captain Dickerson was commissioned into the Air Force and graduated from Officer Training School in March 2022. Since joining the Aviano Air Base, she has provided direct patient care, specializing in assessments, procedure assistance, patient education, newborn care, and telephone consultations, ensuring adherence to the highest standards set by the Defense Health Agency and The Joint Commission.
During her time at NSU, she heavily utilized Nursing and Allied Health’s C.I.N.E. Simulation Lab, as it was her favorite place to learn and practice nursing skills, even on Saturdays. “The realistic mannequins and hands-on scenarios with the nursing instructors created an environment to strengthen my critical thinking, encouraged personal growth, inspired innovation, fostered compassionate patient interaction and most importantly built my confidence in providing safe, reliable patient care,” she reflects. “I have been able to integrate what I learned at NSU into the military daily to support the mission of delivering quality care, improving health, and enhancing readiness with similar training technology to our members.”
Major Hicks earned her undergraduate Nursing degree from Norfolk State in 2011. She received her graduate degree in Public Health Nursing from Johns Hopkins University in 2014 and holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nursing Administration from George Mason University earned in 2020. Joining the Air Force in 2014, she serves as the En Route Patient Staging System Flight Commander at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. In this role, Major Hicks directs team operations that support the Transportation Command mission, transferring wounded warriors from deployed locations to appropriate levels of care. She also served as a Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examiner and managed an expeditionary medical support hospital team that provided disaster relief in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.
She credits Norfolk State for helping her become the leader she is today. “Norfolk State University laid the foundation for me to become a versatile leader with the resilience, critical thinking, and adaptability essential for success in dynamic environments like the military,” she states. “The faculty exemplified a culture of excellence for students to model. I am profoundly grateful for their guidance and remain committed to paying it forward for future generations through mentorship, continuing NSU’s rich legacy.” Captain Dickerson and Major Hicks show that healing doesn’t stop at the bedside—it continues wherever they are called to serve.