From Morehead State to Mayo Clinic: Nursing alum builds career of patient advocacy

Meredith Hennion’s (Class of 2025) road to working at one of the world’s premier hospitals can be traced back to a tragic starting point.

Growing up in Park City just outside of Bowling Green, she got an up-close encounter with critical hospital care after her great-grandfather suffered a cervical spine injury from an unexpected fall. He ended up at a trauma ICU (Intensive Care Unit) in Nashville and later succumbed to his injuries due to respiratory failure.

While the sudden loss of a close family member left a lasting memory, it was remembering how he was cared for by the nursing staff that inspired her.

“I had deep admiration for them and the work that they were doing,” Hennion said. “They were one-on-one with him. They were monitoring him so closely...they were strong advocates for him. That’s when I wanted to do something like that with my life.”

Hennion is doing just that as a registered nurse at the Mayo Clinic, a top-rated medical center and educational/research hospital with a main campus in Rochester, Minnesota. While she knew she wanted to work in nursing, the real-world preparation she received through the nursing program at Morehead State University equipped her to pursue the profession at a world-renowned medical institution.

Hennion’s first experience with Morehead State came in high school through the Governor’s Scholars Program in 2021, which made her college decision an easy one.

“I could just overall see myself there. It felt like home,” she said. “I just kind of felt like I needed to go back there and pursue my degree in nursing and I don’t regret it one bit.”

Hennion said between the small class sizes, caring professors, simulators and equipment at the Center for Health, Education & Research (CHER) and easy access to real-world experience at several nearby hospitals in Morehead and Lexington, she gained thorough preparation and knowledge on the way to earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in the fall semester of 2025.

Her first experience with The Mayo Clinic came serving as a nursing intern the summer before she graduated. She knew immediately that this was a place where she could excel in the profession.

“I was very impressed with how they ran their nursing practice, how they treated their patients, everything,” Hennion said. “There is a reputation for Mayo, and there is a high standard for Mayo Clinic, and I feel like they take it very seriously.”

The Mayo Clinic hired Hennion in February 2026 as a multispecialty/surgical ICU nurse. She said she frequently deals with people recovering from high-risk surgeries where the Mayo Clinic is “their last opportunity and their last chance.” She prioritizes advocating for her patients as they strive to recover and return to a more normal life.

“We’re the ones at the bedside 24/7 watching them. We know what is the best,” she said. “Just think if that were you and were your family member who couldn’t speak and couldn’t speak for themselves. I would want someone in there being that patient advocate.”

During her time at The Mayo Clinic, Hennion said the connections she frequently makes with patients and their families often create bittersweet moments.

“It’s hard because you get close to them and you feel connected to them and their family...at the same time, I want them to get better,” she said. “At the end of the day, if I feel like I’ve made a difference in my patient or if I’ve seen improvement, it’s been worth it.”

Hennion knows she has a rare opportunity as a nurse at a research institution like The Mayo Clinic, and she is taking full advantage of it, whether she is learning to use new medical technology or implementing the latest evidence-based practices. As she strives to become the best nurse she can be for her patients, she never forgets the way the Morehead State nursing program helped her realize her potential.

“I think back often to my lab experiences with the nursing program at the beginning when I was learning how to perform assessments with my patients, talking to my patients, making them feel comfortable and safe...just things that they really emphasized, I carry with me when I’m caring for patients,” Hennion said. “I really appreciate their encouragement and the fact they believed in me and pushed me to do better.”

For more information about MSU’s nursing programs, contact academic advisor Teddy Lausier, academic counseling coordinator for the Department of Nursing, at t.lausier@moreheadstate.edu or 606-783-2319.

You can also contact the Department of Nursing by emailing nursingdept@moreheadstate.edu or calling 606-783-2296.