Soaring with the Thunderbirds: A Hometown Hero's High-Flying Honor
The Conway School of Nursing proudly celebrates Dr. Cari Selzer, Interim Associate Dean for Online Learning, Director of Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, Clinical Assistant Professor, who was recently named a 2025 West Texas Hometown Hero—a distinction that took her on an unforgettable adventure at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas.
With over 30 years of experience in critical care medicine, Cari is no stranger to high-pressure environments. But her latest feat—joining the elite 9G Club after flying with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds—is a new kind of high. As part of her award recognition, she spent the day receiving briefings, undergoing training, and then flying with the Thunderbirds, experiencing the thrill (and force) of a 9G flight firsthand. She can now officially say she’s not only a nurse and educator—but also a pilot, astronaut, and honorary Thunderbird.
Cari’s nursing journey has taken her from emergency rooms to mission fields across the globe. She has served as a paramedic, flight nurse, and medical missionary, supporting two health missions to Kenya (2010 and 2011) and a recent surgical mission to the Philippines in March 2024, where she helped facilitate around 100 pro bono surgical procedures.
Here at The Catholic University of America, Cari has been an integral part of our community since March 2023. She has taught Advanced Pathophysiology, Adult Health Nursing I & II, and led immersive on-campus intensives for graduate students. Her dedication extends beyond the classroom—Cari also mentors fellow faculty in online education strategies, helping to strengthen the quality and reach of our graduate nursing programs.
Outside of her professional life, Cari embodies service in every sense—volunteering with the Union Gospel Mission in Fort Worth, her local homeless shelter, and her church community. She’s also a devoted wife and proud mother of five children, balancing her many roles with grace, energy, and heart.
Please join us in celebrating Dr. Cari Selzer—a compassionate nurse, inspiring educator, fearless adventurer, and true Hometown Hero. Cari, thank you for the example you set and the light you bring to the Conway School of Nursing and beyond.