#2025UMMCGrad: Pattersons combine DNP studies with family life, careers

Shaneka and Kevin Patterson look forward to receiving their DNPs from UMMC.

#2025UMMCGrad: Pattersons combine DNP studies with family life, careers

Published on Monday, April 14, 2025

By: Annie Oeth, aoeth@umc.edu

To say Shaneka and Kevin Patterson have full schedules would be an understatement.

"Our schedule is robust," Shaneka Patterson said.

On May 23, the Pattersons, of Clinton, will receive their Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees from the University of Mississippi Medical Center ‒ the first married couple to complete the program together. Cheering them on will be their four children, KJ, 11, Kruz, 6, Luella, 3, and Luna, 2.

Not only have they been full-time DNP students the past two years, but they've combined their studies with full-time nursing careers. Shaneka Patterson is a family nurse practitioner in neurology at UMMC's Colony Park South, caring for stroke patients, among others, and Kevin Patterson is a family nurse practitioner at G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery Veterans Affairs Medical Center, caring for veterans in medical-surgical units.

"We also have plenty of activities for the kids, and we go on family vacations," Shaneka said. "Kevin is coaching Little League baseball this spring."

The two, both from Kosciusko, were classmates in high school, with Kevin graduating in 2002 and Shaneka in 2003. "We reconnected later in life," Shaneka said.

Kevin came to nursing through exercise physiology. He earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Jackson State University and a Master of Science degree in kinesiology from Mississippi State University. He then worked at Ochsner Health Center-Elmwood in New Orleans as an exercise physiologist, managing the gym while training clients.

One day, a client at the gym went into cardiac arrest and passed out. Kevin immediately performed life-saving CPR, an experience that deeply impacted him. He received an American Heart Association award for his efforts, and realized his calling was in health care. That experience ultimately led him to earn a BSN at Belhaven.

Shaneka, on the other hand, always wanted to be a nurse. She earned her BSN at the UMMC School of Nursing in 2008 after studying two years at Ole Miss. Both Pattersons earned MSN degrees from Alcorn State.

Earning DNPs at UMMC was Kevin's idea. "I thought we were both so close to finishing a terminal degree that we should do it."

"I took some convincing," said Shaneka. "We were having Luna that spring, so I needed a few months. I told him, 'You're not going without me.' We started working on the degree in August 2023."

The decision to earn doctoral degrees was the right one, she said. "I'm glad we did this, because it reinvigorated my passion for research."

Studying for DNP degrees together had benefits, the couple said.

"We had the same classes and the same goals," Kevin said. "We could bounce ideas off each other. It was a lot easier with a study buddy."

The two don't always agree, which makes for rich discussions, Shaneka said.

"We sometimes see things differently," she said, "but there's beauty in that. We're able to help each other by sharing our viewpoints."

When one needed study time, the other understood only too well.

"There were definitely weekends when we both needed to study, so we were calling grandmothers to help with the kids," he said.

Their mothers have made their DNP studies possible. "We couldn't have made it without them," Shaneka said. "They have access to the family calendar and know what the children's activities are."

As they were embarking on their DNP journeys, Kevin and Shaneka made sure they would prioritize family time, making memories on family beach and theme park vacations and being involved in their children's activities. They also have prioritized their relationship and time together.

"We wanted to show our children that earning a doctoral degree is possible without giving up your life," Kevin said.

The Pattersons are setting an example for future nurses, said Dr. Michelle Palokas, professor of nursing and associate dean for administration.

"It has been an absolute privilege to watch Kevin and Shaneka grow throughout the DNP program - not only as individuals, but also as a team," Palokas said. "Their dedication to advancing health care is inspiring, and their support for each other has been heartwarming to witness.

"As the first married couple to complete our program, they are paving the way for future students, proving that perseverance and commitment can lead to incredible achievements," she said. "One of my greatest joys as a School of Nursing faculty member has been seeing their success and how they lift each other up with each new challenge. I have no doubt they will make a lasting impact on the field of nursing and in health care."

Dr. Tina Martin, dean of the School of Nursing, said the Pattersons are both examples of dedication to nursing and their family.

"They are truly inspiring," she said. "Kevin and Shaneka Patterson exemplify the highest standards of excellence in nursing. Their commitment to advancing health care and their compassionate care for patients will undoubtedly make a profound impact on our community."