INF 40 Under 40 Awardee: Maura Waldron

For Maura Waldron, advocacy and education have been at the heart of her personal and professional journey. Born and raised in Oak Park, Illinois, with three older siblings, Maura pursued her passion for health and ethics at Saint Louis University, earning her Bachelor’s in Philosophy with a concentration in Health Care Ethics. As an undergraduate, she co-created an interdisciplinary internship for health care students to study geriatrics. Her research from this work was presented at national and international conferences and even adapted into a Health Care Ethics course, reflecting her early dedication to advancing education in healthcare. After graduation, Maura returned to Chicago to work at the Northwestern University Department of Preventive Medicine, focusing on exercise interventions for breast cancer survivors. During this time, she was accepted into and completed Rush University Medical Center’s Generalist Entry Master’s in Nursing (GEM) program, a decision that launched her nursing career.

From Bedside to Education and Advocacy

Maura began her nursing career on a General Medicine Unit at Rush University Medical Center, where she quickly became a leader, advancing to RN3 on the clinical ladder. She was awarded one of the 2023 Wellness Grants for a project addressing mindfulness and sleep disturbances in nurses and served as chair of both her unit based and hospital wide recognition committees. Her dedication extended to the most challenging moments, Maura was a bedside nurse on a COVID designated unit throughout the pandemic, balancing patient care with staff support during unprecedented times. Maura eventually transitioned into academia as a faculty member at Dominican University, combining her love of nursing and education. She approaches teaching with the belief that educators can remain compassionate and caring without lowering academic standards, preparing students to thrive in demanding clinical environments.

Championing Girls in Sports and Community Leadership

Outside of nursing, Maura is deeply committed to empowering girls through athletics. Alongside her sisters, she helps run a youth fastpitch softball organization, where she coaches and manages coordination, advertising, and programming. She also serves as President of Play Ball, Like A Girl, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing barriers to athletics for girls. The organization has hosted multiple free softball clinics to expand access and encourage participation throughout the Chicago area. Maura lives in Berwyn, Illinois, with her husband and three young children, balancing her passion for nursing education, advocacy, and community leadership.

The Illinois Nurses Foundation proudly recognizes Maura Waldron as a 2025 40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leader for her dedication to nursing education, community service, and empowering the next generation of nurses and athletes.

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