Murray State University Racer Report: Sept. 14-18
By MSU Public Relations | Sep 17, 2026
MURRAY, Ky. — The latest Murray State University Racer Report includes student, faculty, staff and alumni accomplishments, announcements, upcoming campus events and more for the week of Sept. 14-18.
**
Drs. Rachel C. Gardner, Tiffany Eye, Amy Cook, Erica Brown, Jennifer Rogers, and Evan Harris recently had their manuscript, "Improving Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists Outcomes Through Obstetric Hemorrhage Simulation Experience," published in the Journal of Comprehensive Nursing Research and Care.
Their research highlights the impact of repeated simulation-based education in preparing Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists to confidently recognize and respond to obstetric hemorrhage, one of the most critical emergencies in maternal healthcare.
**
Recent Doctor of Nursing Practice-Family Nurse Practitioner graduate Dr. Grace Winchester and faculty member Dr. Jennifer Rogers recently had their manuscript, "Developing a Staff-Led Vertical Flow Model Policy in a Rural Emergency Department," accepted for publication in the Journal of Emergency Nursing.
**
Murray State’s online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program was recently ranked 14th in the 20 Best Online BSN to DNP Program in the country for 2026 by DNPPrograms.com, a national research and directory site focused on Doctor of Nursing Practice education.
Rather than ranking on any single factor, the company uses a return-on-investment methodology that weighs how programs perform across multiple categories, including academic reputation, admissions selectivity, student completion rates, graduate earnings over time and average student debt.
View the full ranking and methodology here: https://www.dnpprograms.com/
**
Murray State celebrates six intern graduates from Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership at the Paducah Site: Rachel Gill, Hannah Burton, Cale Tonazzi, Chase Hayden, Collier Crouch and Graham Vittetoe.
Murray State University’s Office of the Provost was awarded a $1.5 million grant by the Department of Energy (DOE) from May 1, 2024 to Sept. 30, 2028 to support the efficient and effective work consistent with the environmental cleanup and beneficial reuse of the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant site.
The project goal is to develop information that the DOE’s Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office, its contractors and the public can use in decision-making for the environmental cleanup, beneficial reuse and public outreach at the Paducah site.
**
Ellie Foltz, a senior biology major from Chaffee, Missouri, has been accepted to the University of Missouri School of Medicine (Mizzou Med) through the Bryant Scholars Program. This program is an early admissions program that was created to help address the shortage of physicians in rural Missouri. The program identifies students with strong academic potential, leadership experience and a commitment to serving rural communities, providing them with mentorship, professional development and a conditional pathway to medical school. By investing in students who have ties to rural Missouri and a desire to return to underserved areas, the program aims to improve access to quality healthcare throughout the state.
Foltz was drawn to the program because of its mission to educate future physicians who understand the unique healthcare needs of rural communities. It also aligned with everything she wanted in her journey to becoming a physician. The opportunity to receive mentorship, develop as a leader and become part of a community of students with similar goals was incredibly appealing. It offered not only a pathway to medical school but also opportunities for personal and professional growth throughout her undergraduate years.
The Bryant Scholars Program specifically seeks students with strong ties to rural Missouri and a desire to serve those areas. The application process included a competitive interview with the University of Missouri School of Medicine before students were selected as Bryant Scholars. During the interview, she had the opportunity to share the experiences that shaped her passion for medicine, commitment to serving others and goal of one day practicing in a rural community. After earning a conditional acceptance to Mizzou Med, there were still important requirements to fulfill while completing her undergraduate degree. One of the biggest milestones was taking the MCAT—medical board examination—during her junior year and earning the score required to maintain her acceptance into the program. Meeting that benchmark, along with maintaining the program's academic standards, made the acceptance even more meaningful and reinforced her confidence that she was on the right path toward becoming a physician.
Foltz’s long-term goal is to become a physician who provides compassionate, patient-centered care while building meaningful relationships with my patients and their families. Growing up in a rural area has shown her the importance of accessible health care, and she hopes to help improve health care access for underserved communities. She wants to combine strong clinical knowledge with empathy, treating each patient as an individual rather than simply a diagnosis.
While at Murray State, Foltz has been active in the Pre-Health Professionals Club, served in a leadership position with MEDLIFE and participated in a service-learning trip to Peru to provide healthcare support in underserved communities. She is also a member of the Honors College, held leadership positions within Alpha Gamma Delta, studied abroad in London, participated in the English as a Second Language Conversation Partners Program, and volunteered with organizations such as Best Buddies and the local animal shelter.
Foltz will graduate from Murray State in December 2026 and begin her studies at Mizzou Med in fall 2027. Looking back at her time at Murray State, Foltz said she is incredibly grateful for the opportunities, mentors and friendships that have helped prepare her for medical school and shaped the physician she hopes to become.