Alison McKenzie had a remarkable 27-year career as a nurse, with 20 of those years dedicated to serving in the military. Rising to the rank of Major in the Army, she worked tirelessly as the nurse manager of the surgical intensive care unit at New York University Medical Center.

Throughout her journey, Alison faced numerous challenges with courage and resilience. Following the scandal at Abu Ghraib, she was deployed as the head nurse to navigate the aftermath. In her portrait, the flag of Abu Ghraib served as a backdrop, symbolizing the difficulties she encountered during that time.