When The University of Texas Longhorn Band takes the field, the energy is electric. But behind the cheers, the music and the iconic Big “UT” formations, two Alternate Entry Master of Science in Nursing (AEMSN) students from the UT Austin School of Nursing ensure that every band member stays safe and healthy.
From Different Paths to a Shared Calling
Regina Leal, now in her final year of the AE Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PCPNP) program, first discovered her calling to nursing while providing psychotherapy during her final social work clinical placement for underserved elementary-aged children in Austin.
“Seeing firsthand how the lack of access to and affordability of health care impacted families motivated me to become a provider who could help bridge that gap in care,” Leal said. “As someone who thrives on personal connection, I was drawn to nursing because of its strong focus on creating meaningful patient relationships and holistically supporting their well-being.”
Teresa Ladik grew up near Philadelphia and earned her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences before working as a medical tech in the genomics lab at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
“I had always dreamed of going to UT, and my goal was to do my master’s here,” Ladik said. “While working at CHOP, I would have so many patients’ critical data, but I never got to interact with them and that really started to make me sad, so I knew I needed to change my role to be more involved in care.”
Both Leal and Ladik found the AEMSN program at the School of Nursing to be the perfect fit.
Having earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from UT Austin, Leal always felt a deep connection to the Forty Acres and knew she wanted to return to the place where her professional journey began.
“The AE program was the perfect fit for me because it creates a pathway for students who don’t have a bachelor’s in nursing to pursue advanced nursing practice, while celebrating the diverse experiences we each bring and how those perspectives shape the kind of nurses we become,” Leal said. “And honestly, knowing that the School of Nursing is one of the top programs in the country was just the cherry on top.”
Ladik adds, “Once accepted, I bought more burnt orange than I had already had and moved down here knowing zero people, but now I cannot imagine my life without taking that leap of faith to come here.”
Classmates to Band Nurses
Photo Credit: Ralph Arvesen
Leal and Ladik, both registered nurses, became band nurses almost serendipitously after responding to an email from the School of Nursing seeking volunteers to provide medical care for members of the Longhorn Band. As part of their role, they travel with the band to rehearsals, home games and away games, offering on-site support and care whenever it’s needed.
Excited by the opportunity, they sign up together—strengthening their partnership not just as colleagues, but as best friends navigating the role side by side. Their shared enthusiasm for UT and complementary backgrounds made them a natural fit, and they quickly became an essential presence for the band, combining their skills and friendship to support hundreds of students throughout rehearsals, performances and game days.
Through this unique role, Leal and Ladik exemplify the versatility, leadership and compassion that the School of Nursing cultivates in its AEMSN students, proving that nursing truly extends beyond the hospital walls and into the heart of the Longhorn community.
On the Front Lines
Game days begin long before kickoff—sometimes nearly a full workday ahead of time—and Leal and Ladik are part of the action from start to finish. For home games, the Longhorn Band holds a two-hour rehearsal, and the nurses are on duty throughout rehearsal, any special pregame events and the game itself. During halftime, they take to the field alongside the band, ready to step in if anyone needs assistance mid-performance.
For regular-season away games, the Longhorn Band maintains its traditions—marching from the bus into the stadium and performing enthusiastically from the stands, even though they don’t present a halftime show. As band nurses, Leal and Ladik begin their days arriving at the Butler School of Music to prepare for any medical needs that might arise during the long day of travel. About 100 band members typically fly to away games, and early mornings are the norm—sometimes starting as early as 2 a.m. for an 11 a.m. kickoff. Between coordinating logistics, managing travel fatigue and ensuring everyone stays safe while hauling heavy instruments on and off buses and planes, away games require stamina, teamwork and adaptability.
“We need to be prepared for just about anything,” Leal said. Most often, that means managing heat-related illnesses, musculoskeletal pain/injuries, gastrointestinal complaints, headaches and minor wounds.”
“I have earned a new respect for anyone in band and how heavy stuff is and how much heavier it becomes when it is 95 degrees and the sun is directly on you,” Ladik added. “You administer lots of Ibuprofen, liquid IVs and ice packs on gamedays. In my opinion, the most important part of being a band nurse is being able to triage someone and communicate with EMS if they are having a life-threatening emergency. Hopefully that does not happen, but for the most part, the med kits we have cover all of the general first aid problems that get addressed.”
Lessons Beyond the Classroom
Serving as band nurses has been transformative for both students.
“It’s definitely strengthened my critical thinking and ability to respond quickly in unexpected situations,” Leal shared. “It has also helped me build confidence in my assessment skills and communication, both of which I’ll carry into my career as a PNP.”
“As a current and practicing RN, it has definitely taught me a lesson that nursing spans even broader than I thought it did,” Ladik added. “As a future MSN in the leadership field of nursing, it is really cool to see what other types of nursing there could be besides traditional bedside. It has influenced my growth as a human being and taught me so much about how cool band is and how amazing the community is here.”
Their AEMSN studies have directly supported their work with the band. For Leal, she said the most important lesson her AEMSN studies have taught her is how essential teamwork and communication are. Ladik shared that the MSN portion of the program has taught her how she can make a change in the future.
“Especially in a volunteer program like this where you have a lot of control,” Ladik added. “Regina and I have been working on a handbook for Longhorn Band nurses and a list of resources to make Longhorn Band nursing even more efficient. It has definitely taught me that I want to use my leadership master’s to create more opportunities in nursing like this one day.”
Celebrating the Longhorn Spirit
For Leal and Ladik, being part of the Longhorn Band extends beyond patient care—it’s about community and tradition.
“It’s truly an honor to support the Longhorn Band in this way,” Leal said. “While getting to travel with the band and be on the sidelines at the games is one of the coolest things I’ve ever done, my priority is always keeping the band members safe and well cared for so that they can do what they do best: create the incredible atmosphere that defines UT sports.”
“It means the most to me to support the Longhorn Band,” Ladik added. “I am so grateful for this opportunity; it truly is combining all of my passions in life. I saw the Longhorn Band perform in San Antonio in 2017 at a parade, when I was at Fiesta, and you could just feel in the air how important the band was. I have met so many amazing Longhorn Band and staff members who make gameday and rehearsals that much more fun.”
Whether marching through the tunnel for the Red River Rivalry or handling a band member’s heat exhaustion during a sweltering game, Leal and Ladik bring their passion for nursing and dedication to student well-being to every performance.
“The tradition, the energy the band brings, and all things Texas make the gameday experience so amazing,” Ladik concluded. “Just like the song, gameday makes you thank God you were born a Texas Longhorn.”