Cmdr. Julie Darling was named the 2018 Woman of the Year in a special event held at the Westgate Hotel in San Diego, Sept. 25.
Out of 150 finalists, Darling was selected for the top award by a judging panel consisting of winners from the past five years across the following categories: industry leader, nonprofit visionary, rising star and military service.
Recognized for her vision and leadership, Darling serves as the department head for critical care at Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) and is the lead critical care nurse who oversees the professional development and deployments of the Navy’s 271 critical care nurses. Darling is charged with ensuring the Navy has enough of them, wherever they are needed, with the right skills at the right time. The critical care nursing field is the most frequently deployed clinical specialty in the Navy Medicine Enterprise.
A native of Cincinnati, Darling joined the Navy, Jan. 3, 1999, after previously serving as a nurse in the private sector and the VA, which is where she met Rick Smith, a licensed practical nurse and former Navy Corpsman who inspired her to become a Navy nurse. “I worked with him really closely, he was outstanding and he was like, “you have to join the navy! you have to join the navy!” said Darling.
Darling attributes her growth and success to the many mentors she has had throughout her career, which has taken her to several military treatment facilities such as Ft. Belvoir Army Hospital, where she ran her first intensive care unit (ICU), thanks to Lt. Col Danaira Mayes and Maj. Mike Cole, both intensivists. Darling also served at Bethesda Naval Hospital, where she led the orthopedics department through the hospital’s conversion to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and was mentored by Capt. Robin Vossler, and Capt. Susan Woolsey, both Navy Nurse Corps officers.
“I feel like I’ve had amazing mentors along the way,” said Darling, who was recently selected for promotion to the rank of Capt.
Darling has also served on several deployments, which included time aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard as a member of Fleet Surgical Team-9 in the Indo-Pacific, and to Afghanistan with the U.S. Marines’ 2nd Medical Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment-2.
Darling also attributes her success to the junior officers, Corpsmen and civilian staff she has worked with throughout her career.
“I feel like I have such an amazing team, I feel like I’ve had amazing mentors along the way. The division officers, the clinical nurse specialists, the junior officers, they are the ones who keep me in the game. They help me keep my focus on the end goal. I’ve been very lucky to be in great places. Our Navy Corpsmen are our lifeline,” said Darling.
“It’s easy to shine when you’re surrounded by greatness.”