Going back to school for a degree in nursing at 50 wasn’t really something Lizl Anna Kotz had planned. She described the decision as unfolding over time rather than in a single moment. There were multiple factors at play.
For Kotz, several experiences led to where she is today, a recent graduate of MUSC’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program. It all started as her four children began to transition into adulthood.
“I felt a natural shift in my role day to day. At the same time, I held a deep belief that it is never too late to reinvent yourself. More than anything, I felt a calling to further my education in a way that would allow me to make a meaningful difference in someone else’s life,” she mused.
As a physical therapist for over 20 years, she had the medical background, but nursing represented a unique privilege. She was ready to enter into a role where she could walk alongside people in their most vulnerable and difficult moments.
As she began the application process, she faced a couple of challenges, but ultimately, they deepened her interest in nursing.
The first challenge was applying to the program. At 50, she realized that recommendations from professors who taught her physical therapy over 20 years ago may be harder to come by. She did, however, find one. “One professor, Dr. Jack Thomas, was still there and was retiring. He remembered me and was eager to write a letter. I thought to myself, ‘If I get in, I will feel like it is an open door.’”
Kotz’s acceptance felt serendipitous. She had previously graduated from MUSC in 2001 with a master’s degree in physical therapy. What’s more, she met her husband while in school here for the first time. Her connection to MUSC ran deep, and she looked forward to furthering it 20 years later.
“MUSC used to have these mixers where the different colleges would get together,” she explained. “I met him at one of those.”
Now 20 years and four children later, Kotz said that her husband, a dermatologist, has supported her throughout her journey into nursing.
Even with her extensive history with MUSC, Kotz knew that reinventing herself and going back to school might be uncomfortable, but she couldn’t ignore the calling.
She was ready to jump back into the world of college courses and exams at MUSC, albeit at an accelerated pace. The ABSN program is only 16 months, making it more challenging due to its fast pace and larger workload.
I felt a natural shift in my role day to day. At the same time, I held a deep belief that it is never too late to reinvent yourself. More than anything, I felt a calling to further my education in a way that would allow me to make a meaningful difference in someone else's life.
But just before Kotz was about to begin the program, she experienced a major health setback. One back surgery turned into four, and a chronic spinal fluid leak kept her on bed rest for an entire year.
“I had to depend on other people to take care of my kids, which was distressing,” she admitted.
The anguish of not being able to care for her children would stick with her. Following her recovery, she became involved with Star Gospel Mission, an organization that cares for homeless mothers with children through their Morning Light program.
She was able to enter MUSC’s ABSN program in January of 2025. Now, as a recent graduate, she said she can’t say it was easy, but she can say that every moment was worth it.
For example, Kotz spent her first few weeks in the program questioning everything, wondering if she had made a mistake, but over time, she adjusted quite well. “My brain felt out of practice, and juggling family life with school was challenging,” she said. “But about a month in, something clicked, and I found my rhythm with studying and testing again. As an older student, many of my classmates were the same age as my own children. Instead of seeing that as a barrier, I chose to find the humor in it, and honestly, building meaningful friendships with my younger peers became one of the greatest joys of the experience.”
Kotz is going to use the summer to catch her breath, so to speak. She wants to take the time to choose a career path in nursing where she believes she is meant to serve. She said she can see herself in hospice, palliative care, labor and delivery or in psychiatry.
“We are capable of so much, especially when we feel a sense of calling,” Kotz said. “I am so glad I chose to receive my degree from MUSC’s College of Nursing. Everyone wants you to succeed, and the faculty were all so supportive. It was a wonderful experience; one I will always cherish.”
Theresa Stratford
Theresa Stratford is the editor for MUSC’s newspaper, The Catalyst. She has worked as a writer and editor for 25 years since graduating from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and mass communications. As a writer, she has worked for the federal government in cybersecurity and for the Department of Energy. As both a writer and an editor, she has worked for a variety of syndications, including national magazines, such as Vogue Knitting, as well as many local Charleston and South Carolina publications.
