- October, 29, 2025
- Read Time: 5 Min
- Share
Ellie Hardman '24 always knew she wanted to be a nurse.
Growing up in a military family with a mother who served as an Army nurse and a father who was a Marine, Ellie witnessed careers of service firsthand. On days off from school, she followed her mom into Boston hospitals, sitting at nurses’ stations while watching her mother act with compassion and strength. “I always knew I wanted to be a nurse,” she said. “Everyone told me how strong Curry’s nursing program was—and the chance to play lacrosse at the same time felt like the perfect fit.”
As a nursing major and member of the women’s lacrosse team, Ellie quickly learned what it meant to balance early morning practices, clinicals, and leadership responsibilities. By junior year she had become a captain, helping lead a team who at the time was navigating coaching changes, roster turnover, and rebuilding seasons. “We weren’t always winning games,” she remembered, “but we fought for every small victory. That taught me how to lead through challenges.”
A Nursing Foundation Built in Boston
Ellie’s clinical rotations took her all across Boston from South Shore Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess, Boston Children’s, and Quincy Public Schools. Those hands-on experiences she had during her undergraduate years not only confirmed her career path but opened doors to life after Curry.
“My clinical instructor helped me get hired at South Shore Hospital. That’s where I worked until I passed my boards,” she said. “Looking back now, I realize just how well Curry prepared us. We had small classes, professors who really cared, and simulation labs that pushed us to think like real nurses.”
She credits Dr. Julie Grady, Associate Professor in the School of Nursing and Health Sciences, for instilling confidence in her as a student. “When I ended up working in postpartum, I immediately thought of Professor Grady. She made such an impact in my life that I emailed her just to say thank you.”
An Unexpected Path: Answering the Call to Serve
Ellie had always admired her parents, but she never thought she would follow them into military service. That changed during her senior year, when she and roommate and fellow Curry lacrosse captain received a recruiting email from the Navy.
“At first, we laughed about it,” she said. “But then we thought, why not us? We wanted to grow as individuals and see more of the world.”
After commissioning as an officer and completing medical officer training in Newport, Rhode Island, Ellie was stationed at Naval Medical Center San Diego, one of the largest military hospitals in the country.
Ellie Hardman '24“Working in the Navy opened my eyes to my sense of purpose in my career, and my direction of nursing has shifted in a positive way. When I raised my right hand, I made an oath to be an officer in the United States Navy, so no matter what avenue of nursing they placed me in, I was just eager and motivated to help the mission and our naval family’s and warfighters.”
Serving Those Who Serve
Today, Ellie works as a nurse caring for active-duty service members, veterans, military spouses and, unexpectedly, new mothers. Originally planning to work in trauma or ICU, Ellie was placed on a postpartum unit and found a purpose she never expected.
“I work with young military moms who may not have any family around, especially when spouses are deployed,” she shared. “Sometimes we’re their only support.”
She also works alongside Navy corpsmen—enlisted medical personnel who work alongside Marines, an experience which she truly treasures. “They’re 18, 19 years old, learning how to save lives. I get to help train them and that feels incredibly meaningful.”
Lifelong Lessons
Moving across the country, stepping into uniform, and serving in a new environment hasn’t always been easy for Ellie, but her experiences at Curry have helped her through tough times. “I had to learn to be comfortable being uncomfortable,” Ellie reflected. “Back home, I was always outgoing and a leader. Here, I’ve learned to listen first and grow in a new way.”
Yet through every challenge, the lessons from Curry stay with her—through being a student-athlete, compassionate nurse, and a leader on campus.
“One ordinary day for me might be someone’s hardest,” she said. “That’s something Curry taught me…to lead with empathy.”
“The views expressed are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Defense or the Department of the Navy.”
- Read Time: 5 Min
- Share