Happy Halloween, Alumni!

In this feature, we highlight the biography of one of our incredible nursing alumni. We are grateful for the opportunity to shine a light on the tremendous professional and personal accomplishments of our alumni and applaud their incredible achievements as they reflect on their lives and careers.

This month, we are pleased to feature Reneau Buckner Diallo ’87, ’89 MS, who shared with us the following letter:

“I received my BSN from NU in 1987 and MS in 1989. I was an older student who held a diploma in nursing when I entered NU’s program. My story was published in NU’s paper because I was the only African-American in the MS nursing program. I recently retired in March (or maybe I’m just taking a break) and reflected on the most rewarding career that I could have hoped for. I accomplished the goals that were important to me and the women I served.

I will summarize the accomplishments that were most important to me as I journeyed through my nursing career in maternal-child health. During my education at NU, I worked as a Labor and Delivery nurse at Michael Reese Medical Center. Soon after I graduated with my MS, I became a research assistant on a nationwide, multi-city research study, headed by Dr. Gall at UIC for the Chicago site. The study investigated the use of home uterine activity monitors for women at risk for pre-term labor. Although my name was not included on the publications, I was responsible for recruiting the study participants, providing their education, and conducting their examinations as needed. I also managed all the data for the Chicago site. I gained great insight into the research process and into the care of women at risk for preterm labor.

I left the study to become the unit director of Labor and Delivery at Rush Medical Center and served as nursing faculty in the Department of Maternal-Child Nursing at the University. During my tenure as nursing faculty, my students rotated to Northwestern’s Prentice Women’s Hospital for their OB rotation. As a student, I had spent many hours in the old Prentice and now had the opportunity to work in the new hospital: it was like returning home.

During this time, I also began to study midwifery at UIC and, upon completion of the program, I was asked to joined a well-known OB/GYN practice at Rush and served as the only midwife at Rush Center for Women’s Medicine.

Although I was privileged to have an exciting and rewarding career at Rush, I found a need to care for the underserved women in my community. I left Rush to join the midwifery practice of Cook County Bureau of Health where I became the midwifery practice director at Provident Hospital of Cook County and remained in that role until the department closed. During my tenure, our midwifery service provided superb care and had great statistics, including one of the lowest cesarean birth rates in the city. While at Provident, I started one of the first Centering Pregnancy groups in the city. My hobby as a quilt maker challenged me to design the quilt ‘Precious Beginnings’ as a logo for our centering group. Somehow the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) saw the quilt and asked if it could be used as the jacket for the booklet Into the Light of Day. The publication is a history of African-American midwives within ACNM, and I understand the booklet is required reading in some midwifery programs. We made posters from a picture of the quilt and both are sold by ACNM with the proceeds going toward the Midwives of Color Scholarship Fund. This scholarship is for people of color who are pursuing education in midwifery. I cannot express how honored I am for my two passions to come together for such a worthy cause.

Finally, I pursued a clinical Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. My DNP project was the Advocacy Role of the Certified Nurse-Midwife in Improving Maternal Health in Haiti. I spent time in the Central Plateau of Haiti, working in the hospital, mobile clinics, and teaching their midwives. My project won the DNP Scholarship Award at the University of St. Francis and was accepted for presentation at the International Confederation of Midwives Congress. This was such an honor for me because I accomplished this at 70 years of age. I also received an award from my employer for this accomplishment and my commitment to the women I served in the Englewood and surrounding communities. Further, I was featured in the July 2019 issue of Chicago Magazine in the article entitled ‘Birthworkers on the Front Line in Chicago’s Maternal Health Crisis,’ due to my commitment to the care of underserved women. My career has focused on advocating and improving birth outcomes for women in Chicago and globally. I continue to serve as a mentor for advanced practice nurses and midwifery students.

Due to COVID-19 and my age, I was advised to retreat from the ‘frontline.’ I still remain in contact with many of the women I serve and assist them in navigating quality healthcare during these unprecedented times. I continue to seek ways to assist with improving health disparities among women of color. I measure the success of my career by the outcomes of the women I serve. I have had a very rewarding career because I have made a difference in my community.

How exciting that you are taking the time to honor the graduates of NU's nursing program. Often I believe we are forgotten. I made wonderful friends while at NU and am sorry that we lost contact. Hopefully, we can be reunited.”   —Reneau Buckner Diallo DNP, APRN, CNM
 

Thank you to Reneau Buckner Diallo for sharing this wonderful reflection!