The healthcare community in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area is mourning the loss of Mary Hofmann Holtschneider, MEd, MPA, BSN, RN, NPDA-BC, NPD-BC, NREMT-P, CPTD — a highly respected nurse, educator, author, and leader who dedicated her life to advancing patient care, healthcare education, and interprofessional teamwork.
Holtschneider was a Nursing Program Manager at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, where she was deeply involved in using simulation-based education to strengthen clinical skills, communication, and collaboration among healthcare teams. She also served as co-director of the Interprofessional Advanced Fellowship in Clinical Simulation, shaping the next generation of healthcare educators and leaders.
A member of the North Carolina Nurses Association (NCNA), Holtschneider’s clinical background included critical care, trauma, and cardiology. She was also a cardiac arrest survivor in 2013, an experience that deepened her passion for teaching preparedness, emergency response, and the importance of teamwork in healthcare settings. Known for saying that “you have to be prepared for anything to happen, including being called on to do CPR at a moment’s notice,” she embodied the principles she taught.
Beyond her nursing career, Holtschneider was a lifelong learner and multi-talented professional. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Class of 1995, she held certifications across a wide range of disciplines. She was a Pilates Method Alliance–certified Pilates instructor, group exercise instructor through the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and the Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA), and a registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) through the Yoga Alliance. In 2021, she was elected to the Pilates Method Alliance Board of Directors, reflecting her influence in the wellness community.
Holtschneider was also a prolific writer and speaker, contributing to journals, medical publications, and books on simulation, interprofessional education, leadership, and mindfulness. Her work has had a lasting impact on both local and national levels, bridging healthcare, wellness, and education.
Colleagues, students, and friends remember her as a vibrant, compassionate, and innovative leader whose dedication to both her patients and her profession was unmatched.
