• Skip to Content
  • Skip to Main Navigation
  • Skip to Search

Open Search

IU School of Nursing

Indiana University School of Nursing

School of Nursing School of Nursing School of Nursing

  • About
    • History
      • Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society
      • Milestones in IU Nursing History
    • Leadership
      • Faculty Governance
      • Staff Council
      • Organizational Chart
    • Mission, Vision & Values
    • Strategic Plan
    • Accreditation, Honors & Awards
    • Employment Opportunities
      • Open Positions
      • Culture & Community
    • Visiting Scholars
    • Diversity & Inclusion
      • IMPACT Sessions
      • Advisory Council
      • Programs
  • Admissions
    • How to Apply
      • Undergraduate Programs
      • Graduate Programs
    • Cost & Financial Aid
      • Scholarships & Fellowships
    • Explore Career Options
  • Academics
    • Programs & Degree Tracks
      • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
        • Traditional Track
          • Honors Program
        • Second Degree Accelerated BSN Track
        • RN to BSN Track
      • Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
        • Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
        • Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist
        • Nursing Education
        • Nursing Leadership in Health Systems
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice
        • BSN-DNP Nurse Practitioner
          • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
          • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
          • Family Nurse Practitioner
          • Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
          • Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
        • Post-MSN DNP
          • Executive Leadership Track
          • Advanced Clinical Track
        • DNP student projects
      • PhD in Nursing Science
        • PhD student projects
      • Certificates
    • Pre- and Postdoctoral Training
    • Simulation & Skills Centers
    • Learning Tools & Technologies
      • Online/Distance-Accessible Learning
      • Software, Hardware & Network Requirements
    • Clinical Partnerships
    • Become a Preceptor
    • Study Abroad
    • Global Programs
    • Health Policy & Advocacy
  • Research
    • Areas of Research Excellence
      • Serious Illness Care
      • Community and Health Systems
      • Quality of Life and Chronic Condition Management
      • Prevention and Health Promotion
    • Meet the Researchers
    • Centers
      • Champion Center for Cancer Control Research
      • Center for Enhancing Quality of Life in Chronic Illness
      • Faculty Innovating for Nursing Education
      • Social Network Health Research Lab
      • Research in Palliative & End-of-life Communication and Training (RESPECT) Center
    • Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships
      • Current and Past Fellows
      • Cancer Prevention and Control
  • Outreach
  • Continuing Education
    • Upcoming Programs
      • The Policy Academy
      • Using Grounded Theory in Your Research
      • CNA Program Director and Instructor Training
      • Qualified Medication Aide Program Director Training
      • Orientation to Nursing Professional Development Practice
      • Canvas Intro
    • Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Training
    • Simulation Excellence
    • Lectureship Series
    • Past Programs
      • Urgency of Now
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Alumni & Giving
    • Alumni
      • Legacy Leaders Award
      • Bicentennial Award
      • Share Your Story
    • Parents & Families
    • Ways to Give
    • Get Involved
      • Military Service Survey
  • Main
  • Bloomington
    • About
      • Leadership
        • Advisory Board Members
      • Open Positions
      • Culture & Community
      • Contact Us
    • Admissions
      • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
        • Pre-nursing Coursework
      • Graduate Programs
      • Cost & Financial Aid
        • Scholarships
    • Academics
      • Programs & Degree Tracks
      • Simulation & Skills Center
      • Clinical Partnerships
    • Research
    • Outreach
    • Student Life
      • Student Organizations
    • Alumni & Giving
      • Alumni
      • Parents & Families
        • Parent Engagement Form
      • Ways to Give
      • Nursing News
  • Fort Wayne
    • About
      • Leadership
        • Advisory Board Members
      • Open Positions
      • Culture & Community
      • Contact Us
    • Admissions
      • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
        • Traditional Track
          • Pre-nursing Coursework
        • Second Degree Accelerated BSN Track
      • Graduate Programs
      • Cost & Financial Aid
        • Scholarships
    • Academics
      • Programs & Degree Tracks
      • Simulation & Skills Center
      • Clinical Partnerships
    • Research
    • Outreach
      • Lafayette Street Clinic
    • Student Life
      • Student Organizations
    • Alumni & Giving
      • Alumni
      • Parents & Families
      • Ways to Give
  • Indianapolis
    • About
      • Leadership
        • Advisory Board Members
      • Open Positions
      • Culture & Community
      • IU Indianapolis Faculty Support
      • Contact Us
    • Admissions
      • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
        • Traditional Track
          • Pre-nursing Coursework
        • Second Degree Accelerated BSN Track
      • Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
        • Education & Leadership Tracks
        • Clinical Nurse Specialist Tracks
      • BSN-DNP Nurse Practitioner
      • Post-MSN Doctor of Nursing Practice
      • PhD in Nursing Science
      • Certificates
      • Cost & Financial Aid
        • Scholarships & Fellowships
    • Academics
      • Programs & Degree Tracks
      • Simulation & Skills Center
      • Clinical Partnerships
    • Research
      • Student Research Opportunities
    • Outreach
    • Student Life
      • Graduation
      • Student Organizations
    • Alumni & Giving
      • Alumni
      • Parents & Families
      • Ways to Give
      • Pulse Newsletter
  • News & Events
    • Vital Signs Newsroom
      • 2025
        • Graduate students learn hands-on health advocacy skills through legislative fellowship
        • Two professors appointed to titled professorships
      • 2024
        • December 2024 BSN graduate features
        • Celebrating Faculty and Student Excellence: Harm Prevention Partners Program Impact
        • Faculty Feature: Dr. Heather Hardin
        • Alumni Feature: Dawn Sites
        • Student Feature: Heather Ward
        • Donor Feature: Susan Buhr
        • Student Feature: Grace Heitzmann
        • Dr. Miyeon Jung
        • First-Generation Student: Chyna Gates
        • Resilience Redefined
        • Making Tomorrow Possible
        • Faculty Research: Dr. Kristin Levoy
        • Student Feature: Dayton Livingston
        • Alumni Feature: Savannah Langbehn
        • Donor Feature: Dr. Rose Mays
        • Bryan White and Marian Gilhooly lead in developing cultural competencies for the nursing curriculum
        • IU School of Nursing addresses state's nursing shortage with largest beginning class ever
        • Faculty Feature: Dr. Greg Carter
        • Celebrating Clinical Nurse Specialists!
        • Senior nursing students Serin Kang and Tomi Abegunde are ready for the start of the fall semester
        • Dr. Yvonne Lu's community-based research aims to increase health literacy about Alzheimer's Disease and related dementia among African Americans
        • IU student nurses experience healthcare in Kenya
        • Faculty Feature: Dr. Elizabeth Holtel
        • Dr. Jane von Gaudecker receives $2.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to address epilepsy treatment gap in western Kenya
        • Catalyst for change in The Kingdom of Eswatini
        • Fagan and Howle named Jonas Scholars
        • Jennifer Fuentes
        • Charlotte Carlley
        • IU School of Nursing Faculty Promotions
        • Dr. Jamie Rausch awarded August Tomusk Research Fund grant
        • Top 100: Gillienne Boyd
        • Elite 50: Stephanie Zidek
        • Top 100: Megan Szymanski
        • Top 100: Abby Henderson
        • Top 100: Emma Bucher
        • Kay Farmer
        • Kiki Suttle
        • Elham Algashgari
        • U.S. News & World Report's Best Online Nursing Rankings 2024
        • Top 100: Valliei Chandrakumar
        • Faculty Feature: Dr. Cindy Hill
        • Top 100: Tatum Murawski
        • Faculty Feature: Britney Arce
        • Faculty Feature: Dr. Melanie Gall
        • National Mentoring Month: Drs. Pei-Shiun Chang and Yvonne Lu
        • $15.5 million NIH award funds development of national network to include nursing home residents in clinical trials
        • Meet the IU School of Nursing Regatta Teams!
        • Meet the IU School of Nursing Regatta Teams!
        • Meet the IU School of Nursing Regatta Teams!
        • Student Feature: Ella Colclesser
        • Hispanic Heritage Month
        • Faculty Research: Dr. Jane von Gaudecker
        • Faculty Research: Dr. Jamie Rausch
        • Meet the IU School of Nursing Regatta Teams!
        • Faculty Research: Dr. Jennifer Brower
        • Meet the IU School of Nursing Regatta Volunteers!
        • Graduate student: Sarah Kenny
        • Hispanic Heritage Month Comes to a Close
        • Faculty Driving Change: Linda Romines and Sheila Wright
      • Search Articles
    • Events
    • Indiana University News
  • Directory
  • Home
  • About
    • History
    • Leadership
    • Mission, Vision & Values
    • Strategic Plan
    • Accreditation, Honors & Awards
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Visiting Scholars
    • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Admissions
    • How to Apply
    • Cost & Financial Aid
    • Explore Career Options
  • Academics
    • Programs & Degree Tracks
    • Pre- and Postdoctoral Training
    • Simulation & Skills Centers
    • Learning Tools & Technologies
    • Clinical Partnerships
    • Become a Preceptor
    • Study Abroad
    • Global Programs
    • Health Policy & Advocacy
  • Research
    • Areas of Research Excellence
    • Meet the Researchers
    • Centers
    • Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships
  • Outreach
  • Continuing Education
    • Upcoming Programs
    • Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Training
    • Simulation Excellence
    • Lectureship Series
    • Past Programs
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Alumni & Giving
    • Alumni
    • Parents & Families
    • Ways to Give
    • Get Involved
  • Search
  • Main
  • Bloomington
  • Fort Wayne
  • Indianapolis
  • News & Events
  • Directory
  • Home
  • News & Events
  • Vital Signs Newsroom

Specializing in GI nursing led alumna to a wide range of opportunities

Written by Rachel Hill Ponko

Monday, March 21, 2022

Image of Michelle Juan, MSN, RN, CGRN, Advanced Colonoscopy and Inherited Colorectal Syndrome Nurse Navigator

Michelle Juan, MSN, RN, CGRN, wanted to be a nurse as far back as she can remember.

"As a kid, I wrote that I wanted to be a nurse in my copy of the Dr. Seuss book, ‘My Book About Me,’" says Juan. "Later, while pursuing nursing as a young adult, I knew it was the right fit because there are so many opportunities in nursing to explore."

While studying nursing, Juan found herself drawn to gastroenterology, a field of medicine that focuses on the health of the digestive system, including the stomach and bowels. GI nurses focus on treating and caring for individuals suffering from diseases and disorders of the digestive tract.

Choosing GI as a specialty exposed Juan to a wide range of opportunities within the nursing profession.

"There is endoscopy, which are your "scopes," such as colonoscopy, and you have manometry, which tests the motility of your GI tract," says Juan. "You could also work in a clinic and support providers with triage management of inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease and others. There are also nurse navigators and nurse researchers - and these are just a few examples."

Juan's interest in the field only grew stronger after she enrolled in IU School of Nursing's graduate program. She felt supported and challenged by faculty members whose research and scholarship of the digestive system focus on interventions to reduce the risk of cancer and improve the body's overall health.

"Dr. Susan Rawl served as my mentor during that time, and it only increased my passion for GI because of her research within that specialty," says Juan.

Today, Juan serves as the advanced colonoscopy and inherited colorectal syndrome nurse navigator with IU Health Physicians Digestive & Liver Disorders in Indianapolis. When patients are faced with scheduling multiple appointments, she provides much-needed support to make sure they get to the right place. While she enjoys helping patients navigate the system, what truly drives her is a desire to treat the whole person.

"Nursing for me has always been about compassion and care," says Juan. "We see people at their worst moments more often than their best. I find that perspective very humbling as a nurse. It's also empowering to know I can make a difference - however big or small - in their care."

Nursing for me has always been about compassion and care.”

Juan encourages nursing students to explore GI as a clinical rotation and seek out a student membership with the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (SGNA) to gain access to educational resources and connect with GI peers.

"You could never get bored in GI with so many subspecialties to learn," she says.

  • Vital Signs Newsroom
    • 2025
    • 2024
    • Search Articles
  • Events
  • Indiana University News

IU School of Nursing - Resources and social media channels

  • Give Now


  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Indiana University

Accessibility | College Scorecard | Privacy Notice | Copyright © 2025 The Trustees of Indiana University