Alumni Update: Elizabeth North ’19
Rooted at CDS, Rising in Healthcare: A life shaped by curiosity, compassion, and a CDS community that believed in her, Elizabeth North ’19 is now transforming that early foundation into a career devoted to healing and leading in healthcare.
Carrollwood Day School became more than a place to learn the moment Elizabeth North stepped into the two-year-old toddler class. It grew into the community that raised her, the foundation beneath every step she has taken since graduating in 2019, and the home she carried with her to Tallahassee, St. Petersburg, and now into the next chapter of her nursing career.
Elizabeth attended Florida State University for her undergraduate degree in nursing, and while she was there, she immersed herself in the work. At Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, she completed a nursing preceptorship in labor and delivery and served as a student nurse gaining experience in Orthopedic, Behavioral Health, Labor and Delivery, NICU II, and Postoperative Care. The variety of environments shaped her confidence and clarified her calling. By August 2023, she stepped into her first full-time role as a pediatric nurse at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. She describes working there as something she genuinely loves, and that joy shows in the way she keeps saying yes to the next opportunity. In August 2024, she returned to school to pursue her Doctor of Nursing Practice with the goal of becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner, and she will graduate in May 2027. She also serves on the eating disorder committee, helping examine clinical pathways and treatment outcomes to improve and streamline practices across the hospital. This spring, she will step into a new role as a clinical instructor for pediatrics at St. Joseph’s, bringing her experience full circle as she begins to teach emerging nurses.
When Elizabeth reflects on her years at CDS, her voice becomes especially warm. “I started at CDS in the 2-year-old toddler class and stayed until I graduated my senior year, so CDS truly became a second home to me. Growing up there provided me with a close-knit community that felt like family for 16 years! I always felt supported by teachers who knew me well, classmates who grew up alongside me, and an environment that encouraged curiosity, kindness, and confidence.”
She speaks often about how prepared she felt when she arrived at FSU, crediting the academics at CDS for setting her up with habits and skills that stayed with her. “The rigorous academic curriculum was one of the biggest positives. It challenged me in the best way and prepared me extremely well for both nursing school and now graduate school. I learned strong study habits and time-management skills that made the transition to higher education much smoother. Beyond academics, CDS emphasized character development and leadership, which helped me develop skills needed to serve the population around me in my career now.”
Even as her education and career carried her forward, the memories remain close, especially the ones that somehow stay vivid no matter how many years pass. “One of my favorite memories from when I was little was the Fall Festival! Getting out of school early, playing games, and getting candy-corn face paint is something I still remember so vividly.”
And then there are the traditions that shape you differently when you return to them at a new age. “Senior Buddies was definitely my favorite tradition. That program didn’t exist yet when I was in first grade, so getting the chance to participate as a senior felt extra meaningful. Being able to connect with a younger student, make them feel supported, and experience CDS traditions from ‘the other side’ was truly special. It was a moment that reminded me how much the school had shaped me over the years.”
Today, as Elizabeth steps further into the world of medicine, leadership, and teaching, her path reflects exactly what she remembers from her earliest days at CDS. Curiosity. Kindness. Confidence. And a deep sense of responsibility to serve others. Her story is a reminder of what happens when a child is surrounded by people who believe in them from the very beginning.
We love sharing our alumni achievements with the CDS community. If you are a CDS Alumni and would like to share your accomplishments, please contact our Alumni Engagement Coordinator, Carli (Gauthier) Mianne '16 at cmianne@cdspatriots.org and let us know what you have been up to since leaving CDS. We look forward to hearing from you!