When BARBARA PITCHFORD ’73 VOSHALL, DNP, RN, began her journey at Graceland, she likely never imagined the profound influence she would have on the field of nursing education.
July 22, 2025 | Georgia Seagraves, MS, ’21
As a Professor of Nursing at Graceland’s Independence campus, Dr. Voshall has been instrumental in shaping the curriculum and guiding students through the complexities of pathophysiology, pharmacology, and adult health care. Her teaching philosophy centers on the belief that nursing is fundamentally about caring — a principle she extends to her educational approach.
Dr. Voshall’s dedication to her students was celebrated in Fall 2022 when she received Graceland’s Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching. This accolade reflects her commitment to treating students as equal partners in the learning process and her ability to make complex material accessible and relevant. One of her students noted:
“Dr. Voshall cares for us as people, as nursing students, and for our futures. She genuinely wants to see us make an impact on the healthcare community and change lives every day.”
LEIGH THOMAS ’23
Her impact as an educator came into sharp focus during a moment that blurred the lines between teaching and lived experience.
While teaching a lesson on heart attacks, Dr. Voshall began to experience the very symptoms she was describing. Both she and her students quickly recognized what was happening and took swift action. She was transported to Centerpoint Medical Center, where her care team — remarkably — was made up of nurses she had personally taught. In that moment, surrounded by former students who now held her life in their hands, the full impact of her decades of teaching became powerfully real.
Her classroom had prepared them, and they were now giving back in the most profound way.
As Graceland continues to uphold its mission of creating learning communities where students develop their potential for meaningful and productive lives, Dr. Voshall stands as a testament to this vision. Her unwavering commitment to her students, her profession, and her alma mater exemplifies the values of learning, wholeness, and community that Graceland holds dear.
In reflecting on her career, Dr. Voshall’s story serves as an inspiration to current and future students, illustrating the profound impact that dedicated educators can have on individuals and the healthcare system as a whole. Her legacy at Graceland University is one of compassion, excellence, and transformative education.
Watch the video about Dr. Voshall’s story:
Academics - Spring / Summer 2025
July 22, 2025
A closer look at three safety-focused programs preparing Graceland graduates to serve and protect their communities and critical systems.
Academics - Spring / Summer 2025
July 22, 2025
Graceland has always been a place where potential takes root, where students are invited to discover their purpose and are given the tools to pursue it with confidence. That tradition continues this fall as Graceland proudly launches two new academic programs on the Lamoni campus: a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Academics - Spring / Summer 2025
July 22, 2025
Allied Health major and track runner Grace Testerman ’26 has many sides: the athletic, the creative, and the caring side. She’s happiest where she can be all three, and for her senior capstone project, she found a place that turned out to be just right.
