Double Bruin Nurse inducted into UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame

Brittani McCullough, MSN, RN, CPNP, a two-time graduate of the UCLA Joe C. Wen School of Nursing and former Bruin gymnast, has been inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame.

“Being inducted is an incredible honor,” McCullough said. “My time as a Bruin gymnast shaped so much of who I am, and I’m proud to be recognized alongside so many legendary athletes.”

McCullough competed for the UCLA women’s gymnastics team from 2008 to 2011, winning two NCAA titles and earning four first-team All-America honors. McCullough was a key contributor to UCLA’s 2010 NCAA Championship team and won the NCAA individual title on floor exercise that same year. 

She also distinguished herself academically as a student in the school of nursing, the first student-athlete in the school’s history. She has said that her decision to pursue nursing was inspired by a personal experience following a serious car accident her freshman year, when the care she received from a nurse motivated her to enter the profession.

Balancing the demands of collegiate athletics with the rigors of nursing education, McCullough maintained a strong academic record and was consistently named to the UCLA Director’s Honor Roll. She pursued her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree while competing as a Bruin gymnast, graduating from the program in 2011 before working in the neonatal intensive care unit at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. 

“Balancing nursing school and gymnastics was one of the most challenging experiences of my life,” McCullough said. “But it taught me discipline, resilience, and the importance of staying focused on what truly matters.”

In 2016, McCullough earned her Master of Science in Nursing degree from UCLA and became a pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP). She continues to see patients today as a PNP for the Northeast Valley Health Corporation.

McCullough joins eight other former UCLA student-athletes to be inducted as part of the 2025 UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame. Other members of the Class of 2025 are: Tracey Milburn Bailey (women's soccer), Brandon Crawford (baseball), Mike Franks (men's tennis), Cyndi Gallagher (women's swimming & diving), Jason Kapono (men's basketball), Kimberly Po (women's tennis), Sheena Johnson Tosta (women's track & field) and Lisa Willis (women's basketball).

The new Hall of Fame members combined to win five NCAA Championships and 20 All-America honors. Included in the group are a two-time World Series champion (Crawford), an NBA champion (Kapono), an Olympic medalist (Johnson Tosta) and a Wimbledon champion (Po).