More Than a Match

As a first-generation nursing student with a family history of healthcare professionals, Mackenzie always felt a pull toward the medical field. He credits his decision to pursue nursing, specifically to attend Duquesne, to a calling he’s felt since childhood: leaving the world better than he found it.

What ultimately drew him to Duquesne was the School of Nursing’s direct admit Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. “Being a nursing student from day one gives you an advantage,” he explained. “While my friends at other schools were just starting clinicals as juniors, I already had several semesters of hands-on experience.” Mackenzie has since embraced campus life as an RA, Duquesne University Student Nurses Association member, and a leader within Alpha Tau Delta, the nursing fraternity. He even helped launch a living-learning community for nursing students, creating a shared growth and support space.

That same drive to make a difference extended beyond the classroom. During his freshman year, Mackenzie joined the national bone marrow registry after overhearing a student athlete who had donated. “The football team was signing people up outside the dining hall. I knew how important it was, and the process was so simple—a quick swab of the mouth, and that was it.”

Nearly three years later, he received a call: he was a match.

“That call set everything into motion,” he recalled. Lab work was scheduled almost immediately, and you have one dedicated contact person who handles the scheduling of your lab work and provides updates about the process. About a week after his test results were in, Mackenize was notified that the patient’s condition improved, which paused his donation at this time. Mackenzie remains on standby, ready to act when needed.

Thanks to his nursing education, Mackenzie understood what the donation process entailed—something he says made it easier to say yes. “They didn’t have to explain it all to me. I knew what I was stepping into, and it made me more confident in going forward.”

The experience reshaped his perspective on healthcare and reinforced his gratitude for the supportive environment he experienced here at Duquesne. Professors and classmates shared words of encouragement with him and understood that this opportunity was about saving a life.

For Mackenzie, the journey has been fulfilling, exciting, and full of hope. From assisting with his first delivery in clinicals to helping start a community for fellow students, his time at Duquesne has shaped not only the nurse he’s becoming but also the person he strives to be. “This place didn’t just teach me nursing—it helped me grow into someone who shows up for others.”