Isabel Buckingham

Where Are You From?

Longview, WA

What degree program are you enrolled in and when do you expect to graduate?

Traditional BSN, graduating May 2022

Do you have any other degrees, and if so, from where?

This is my first degree; I will be minoring in Global Health with a certificate in Spanish.

If you have a particular area of nursing interest, what is it:

Psychiatric Nursing, and eventually nursing research and education as well.

What do you hope to be doing in five years?

In five years, I hope to have recently graduated from Penn’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program, to which I was accepted as a sub matriculant last spring. While I haven’t decided the specific population I wish to serve, I see myself working with historically marginalized and vulnerable communities to narrow the gap in mental health care access, quality, and equity. Through this experience as an advanced practice nurse, I aim to gain the tools and platform to advocate and give voice to those I serve, assess the gaps in care that can be further elucidated and addressed in later research, and empower patients and their communities with information and resources. And, I hope to be keeping up on the other things I love like walking my dog, reading old books, catching up with family and friends, and exploring the natural world.

Could you share a fun fact about yourself?

I’ve played the drums since 6th grade, and today am a proud member of the Penn Band Drumline. Go Quakers!