For Haley Dorsett, becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner wasn’t just a career move—it was a calling. Today, she provides essential care to children in Caldwell County through Ascension Seton’s Children’s Care-A-Van, a mobile clinic that brings medical services directly to underserved communities. But her journey into healthcare, and her deep commitment to the mission of Ascension Seton, was shaped by the generosity of others.
Haley’s path began after she earned a biology degree from St. Edward’s University. Unsure of her next step, she took a job as a medical assistant at a family clinic, where she worked closely with registered nurses and nurse practitioners. Their compassion and expertise inspired her to follow in their footsteps—and she quickly knew where she wanted to build her career.
“I knew from the beginning that Seton was where I wanted to be,” Haley said.
After graduating from nursing school in 2019, Haley began her career at Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. She later transitioned to labor and delivery at Ascension Seton Hays, where she had a uniquely full-circle experience: caring for patients in the same unit where she had given birth to her children, often working alongside the very nurses who once cared for her.
While serving patients, Haley was also thinking about her future. She felt called to deepen her skills and expand her impact by becoming a nurse practitioner. But pursuing an advanced degree as a young mom—while working full-time—wasn’t a simple decision. She and her husband weighed the costs and challenges carefully.
“It was daunting,” she recalled. “I found out I was pregnant with my second child the same week I was accepted into grad school. We weren’t sure how we were going to make it work.”
Then came an unexpected gift: Haley was selected to receive a scholarship from the Searcy Family Health Professions Scholarship Endowment and Ascension Texas Nurse Scholarship Program. That support allowed her to start the program with confidence—and she went on to receive a scholarship multiple times during her studies, ultimately earning her master’s degree and becoming a nurse practitioner.
Today, Haley serves as the pediatric provider for the Children’s Care-A-Van, a mobile unit offering primary care for children in Caldwell County. Many of the children she sees wouldn’t otherwise have access to regular checkups, vaccines, or treatment. The clinic never charges more than $20 for uninsured patients.
The mission of the Children’s Care-A-Van hits home for Haley. “I came from a small town,” she said. “I remember my mom taking me to community clinics when we didn’t have insurance. I see myself in a lot of the kids we care for.”
For Haley, staying with Ascension Seton is about more than job security—it’s about purpose.
“This is where I’m meant to be,” she said. “I feel like I’ve been given so much more than I deserve, and I want to give back. It’s important to be a good steward of what’s been given.”
Her story is one of many made possible by the generous spirit of our community. Whether you give to programs like the Children’s Care-A-Van or support scholarships that help grow our healthcare workforce, you are an important part of our mission. Thanks to people like you, caregivers like Haley can continue to deliver compassionate, high-quality care where it’s needed most.