SHU on the Frontlines

Kevin is a PGY-1 (1st year) in Internal Medicine at Lehigh Valley Health Network. He is hoping to specialize in Hematology/Oncology. He is working in the emergency room for the next month where he is triaging all patients coming into the hospital including COVID-19 evaluations. They are assuming everyone coming is asymptomatic.

Gigi is in the thick of things serving as a nurse at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center in Englewood, NJ. She normally works the floor reserved for stroke victims, but last night was called to the Coronavirus floor, assigned to three patients and worked a 16-hour shift.  She is exhausted, but the experience was invaluable, and they know there is more to come. Her parents, Tony and Laura, are nervous and scared for their daughter, but they so proud of her. Tony had great things to say about how Dean Mary Alice Donius and the College of Nursing prepared Gigi and her fellow classmates. Gigi, Tony, and Laura are proud members of the Pioneer community.

Jaclyn is an EMT-B for Hunter EMS in Bay Shore, NY. She wanted to remind us that not everyone is working from home, there are some individuals who are out in the world helping others, regardless of the circumstances. Jaclyn shared the importance of the morals that have been instilled in her at SHU and how she embraces those principals during these difficult times. She is a great example of what it truly means to be a Pioneer. Jaclyn sent us a photo of her in her EMT gear, still rocking SHU Swimming and Diving.

SHU DPT graduates doing their best at practicing social distancing while working hard in a Massachusetts Hospital. They are taking it one day at a time and being super flexible with constant changes. 

This photo was taken when I was a surgical nurse in Mount Sinai NYC where, currently, the lobby is being turned into an area to care for all COVID patients and nurses are using Hefty garbage bags as PPE. Being a nursing student at the best Catholic University (SHU) has taught me that with prayer, faith & hope there IS light at the end of the tunnel and now I use that to get through this pandemic crisis. I salute all nurses, especially my fellow nurse friends, out there saving lives directly on the frontline. Since I work with elective surgery patients, we are actually closed. I will be possibly swabbing COVID patients at driving centers and will be checking temperatures of workers. Thank you for your support.

Carly is currently a Physician Assistant at Mercy Medical Center on Long Island. She is in the heart of this ongoing health crisis. She is incredibly tired and worn out. Every floor at the medical center, except the cancer floor, has been serving COVID patients in some capacity and the ICU has been expanded. She doesn't know how many positive cases there are there or how many people are on ventilators, but she says it's a lot.

Erika is a critical care nurse at Tufts Medical Center. She only helps those patients in the ICU and she said this virus is devastating. She cares for 10+ patients and these are the ones that need the most help and are essentially on life support as they can't breathe on their own. They are recycling, when possible, their masks and safety equipment. They are working nearly 70 hours per week. She said the strain is there but they are staying positive and working as best as they can.

Victoria is a nurse in Brooklyn at NYU Hospital. She is on the front-lines fighting this pandemic. Her floor has been transformed into a critical care unit. Her patients are almost all suffering from COVID-19 and are on ventilators. She said it is incredibly stressful and the shifts are long. She is young but learning on the job and said that she has incredible colleagues who are helping her every day. They try to remain positive in light of a very dire situation.

Katie is a labor and delivery nurse at Bridgeport Hospital. She said it is scary and that she is still focused on just labor and delivery at this point. Her floor is extremely secure and they are taking every precaution to protect mothers and their babies. She had a few COVID-19 cases but not to the volume as others. SHU is proud and thankful for the work that she is doing.

Brandan is a RN at White Plains Hospital. He is usually in Interventional Radiology, but throughout this health crisis he has been helping in the ER with overflow.

As a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner my practice has to maintain the safety and well being of all of our patients and staff. Our office has had to reduce the number of patients to avoid exposure. We have instituted telehealth as an alternative for patients. We see patients in the parking lot with proper PPE as well as in the office for urgent /sick children. COVID 19 has changed the way we practice but has not changed the integrity of my practice. #shunursing

Jen, as a field hockey alumna, is an ICU nurse at Mass gen hospital. She said that her colleagues and other alumni she is in touch with are very much on edge about the lack of proper protective masks where they work. Jen shared that they are limited to using surgical masks and face shields. If they are fortunate to receive a N95 mask then they need to preserve it for the duration of their shift.

SHU alumna, Jenna Corso, working in Westport, CT. She is administering IVs of vitamin C to patients to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

I am a graduate of the SHU class of 2013 where I was a nursing major and played on the women’s soccer team for all 4 years. I am now a Nurse Practitioner, graduated from Hofstra University specializing in critical care. I work in interventional radiology but since have been deployed to work in a COVID Intensive Care Unit at North Shore University Hospital. Never in my life did I think I would work through a global pandemic. What we are seeing on a daily basis are the things that you read about in a text book, it’s a scary and heartbreaking time. We are navigating through completely uncharted territories. We find ourselves mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted at the end of each day, yet unable to sleep thinking about what we experienced and wondering what the next day will bring. For 13 hours straight, with no breaks, we wear PPE from head to toe. We communicate with families regularly, one conversation harder than the next. We need to stay strong. We FaceTime with families so they can see their loved ones, just one last time. Every day is an emotional rollercoaster, but this is the new reality and we have no other choice than to continue moving forward. This leads me to thanking all of you.  Thank you for the outpouring amount of love and support you have shown myself and all of the other essential workers. I’ll never be able to put into words what it means to me. This is the kindness and support we all need to keep going. We need you, just as much as you need us. Lastly, thank you to all of the healthcare providers and front liners around the world working tirelessly, risking your health, and isolating from your families for those of complete strangers. We are in this together. We got this. 

SHU alumni working together at Sharon Hospital, part of Nuvance Health, in Sharon, CT.

As a physician assistant (PA) at Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC, we’ve been partnering with nearby hospitals such as different campuses of the New York Presbyterian Hospitals, as well as others, by taking the overflow of patients: COVID and non-COVID. It’s difficult transitioning from a primarily elective field to a role of true medicine where we’re positively impacting the world, flattening the curve, and helping these patients survive.

Corinne Bergano '12 and I are Labor and Delivery nurses at New York Presbyterian Hospital. We are caring for COVID-19 moms. We are doing our best to keep mom and baby healthy and together. We are also trying to be a good support system for them since their partners have very limited time and access to their families.

I currently work as the Director of Social Work at Meadows at Brookmeade which is a sub acute rehab and skilled nursing facility. Each day I go to work protecting the most vulnerable population from this disease. Families are not allowed to visit their loved ones so it is my job to help them stay connected whether that be through video chat or on the phone. I come into work each day and help my residents navigate uncertainty and anxiety. I speak with family members on a daily basis who fear that their loved one with Dementia might not remember them once this is all over. I am proud to be on the frontline helping to protect the most vulnerable.

I currently work as a RN in the Emergency Department at Massachusetts General Hospital. We are on the frontlines of this pandemic trying to fight the good fight. It has been a long couple of months and we have been overworked and exhausted but we are here for our patients. We see hundreds of patients daily and treat as many as we can due to the virus. We test as many people as we can but also try to limit the amount of exposure for staff. We wear masks all day from the moment we enter the hospital to the moment we leave. I can’t stress the importance enough of social distancing and staying at home. We don’t have the choice to stay home so please stay home for us!

SHU soccer and School of Nursing Alumna, I am a Pediatric ICU nurse in Queens, NY. During these trying and chaotic times, I am also working in make shift Adult ICUs to help out wherever and whenever I can.

Jess graduated from SHU with a BSN in Nursing. Following in her mother’s footsteps of nursing at Holy Name, Jess took a full time position on the oncology 3 Marian unit working full time from 7:00pm to 7:00am. Her mom is currently a psych nurse at Holy Name. Jess has matured and perfected her skills on the night shift and has often taken charge while being a new graduate herself. These young nurses who just graduated find themselves being in charge as a default because the turnover of bedside nursing is hard to compete with. It’s a completely new team and most of these new graduates have stepped up in big ways. Running a very busy 26 bed medical surgical oncology unit during the night shift is no small task. She’s learning to be assertive, ask for help, delegate responsibilities and coordinate the patients care during the night shift. She’s proven to be a leader at such a young age. Since the closing of 3 Marian, the oncology staff has had to float to other COVID units with the unfamiliarity while working under these conditions. Yet, Jess rises to the occasion each and every time. In Jess’s spare time she loves to read. She considers herself a “quiet and boring geek” who loves everything Disney. She also loves to travel. When asked what she likes most of all.... sleep was at the top along with “helping as many people as possible.”

Sean is a 2011 graduate that returned to SHU to become a Physician Assistant. He graduated in the first cohort of the new PA program in 2019 and is currently working on the a COVID-19 floor at Stamford Hospital.

Jessica was a four year member of the Swimming & Diving Team at SHU. She currently holds three school records and is a Northeast Conference honor roll member. Jessica is now an RN at Yale New Haven Hospital.

During his time at SHU, Jorge was a member of the Men’s Lacrosse team. He is now an NYPD Detective assigned to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s security detail. This job takes him around the entire city, working long hours. Back in March, he and his wife Lindsey, who is also a SHU alumna, went through a very stressful time. Jorge and Lindsey both tested positive for COVID-19 while having two small children at home. This kept Jorge out of work for three weeks while they both recovered. Everyone is now healthy and doing great. Returning back to work after recovering from COVID-19 gave Jorge a unique view on this virus and it’s severity.

My name is Valentino Perrina, and I am the CEO of Nutre Meal Plans. My brothers and I founded Nutre in January of 2018. We serve fully prepared, healthy, delicious meals while improving the lives of others through optimal nutrition. We have always had a deep sense of purpose to give back as much as we can. We are very aware of who the heroes in our society are, our healthcare staff. We have shifted our focus to donating to the high stressed nurses and hospital staff who are bravely on the front lines helping contain this virus. We owe you our gratitude and appreciation. With that being said, I have a wide network of NFL athletes that donate. So far, 7 New England Patriots are leading the way. at this moment we donate to 6 hospitals in the MA area and also offer healthcare professionals the option to have 10 free meals delivered right to their doorstep. The staff seems to really love the healthy alternative and convenience of our food.

Hi! I am currently an Inpatient Maternity social worker at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia - mainly coordinating and helping our high risk and post-partum patients navigate being pregnant and having a baby during a pandemic.

Ashley is an Emergency Department Technician at NYU Winthrop Hospital in Mineola, NY. Most of the units in the hospital she works at have been converted into COVID-19 patient units, including majority of the Emergency Department as well. There are tents that were created in the parking lot to treat COVID-19 patients, and many other units have been constructed during the pandemic to meet the large capacity of COVID-19 patients that Winthrop has been seeing. Ashley is not only a per-diem essential worker but she is also a full time graduate student enrolled in the St. John's University Physician Assistant Program Class of 2022. Ashley is glad that she can help to make a difference during this difficult time and she looks forward to treating patients as a Physician Assistant in the future.

Samantha Novack (Class of 2014 and current Adjunct Faculty in the School of Social Work) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Yale-New Haven Hospital. She typically works in a Pediatric Specialty Center with children who have acute and chronic illnesses, with the majority of her work being in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. During the COVID-19 pandemic she has traded in her business casual attire for scrubs and is honored to be serving her pediatric patients and families on the frontlines.

Orthopedic/General Surgery Physician Assistant at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield MA. 6 months into my first PA job as Covid-19 started. Covid has resulted in a complete stop of elective surgical procures causing all mid level providers on the surgical service to take on new roles helping in various areas of the hospital. I spent two weeks in the ER testing Covid patients, switched to night shift coverage for general surgery, and I am now starting to perform critical care procedures in the ICU do to an increase in Covid-19 ventilated patients.

Sarah Merwin Thomen APRN, FNP ‘11 is on the frontlines at Sharon Hospital in Sharon, CT where five SHU alumni also are employed.

I want to share that my college roommate from SHU for all 4 years, Caitlin Conway, is serving on the front lines at the Jewish home. She is a PT - DPT working there and has been a superhero at the Jewish Home! Cait is an amazing selfless person and I want the SHU world to know how amazing she is! She makes Pioneers proud representing the class of 2010 as a superhero on the front lines fighting COVID-19! (Submitted by Theresa Campbell '10)

I have been working in the ICU at Mather Hospital Northwell Health on Long Island treating critical cases of the coronavirus. We have been receiving many overflow patients that were transported from Nassau Long Island hospitals but we are also treating many cases from our own area. Many of these cases have been here for about a month now on ventilators. Even all of the senior ICU nurses say they have never seen anything like this before. But luckily I work with a strong team in our ICU and we are all working together to help save lives.

My Dad, Gene is my hero. He oversee's over 100+ cleanrooms and processes all across the United States. These cleanrooms compounded medications for patients that are at home and out of the hospital. Currently his company is helping with the overflow from hospitals across the county by taking people home and making room for the critically ill COVID-19 patients. My Dad works tirelessly and is dedicated to helping others. As he always tells me, well done! (My Dad is wearing the blue surgical gloves)

I graduated the FDNY academy this year but it wasn't the big celebration you'd expect (like I had at my 2016 Sacred Heart graduation). We were coined the Corona Class of 2020 because instead of finishing out our last 4 weeks of the academy, we got thrown into a firehouse and into the front lines. It's been the definition of on the job training but really worth it. Sacred Heart inspired my passion for helping others and I'm proud to come from a community of so many giving and selfless alumni.

I am a proud SHU College of Nursing Alumni currently working as a Registered Nurse at St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center®, on Long Island, NY. I am assigned to a Cardio-Oncology Unit working towards my Oncology certification. I have an inherent passion towards caring for cancer patients. During this pandemic however, I have channeled my time and effort into healing patients diagnosed with COVID 19. I am forever grateful for the foundation that SHU has given me to help comfort the sick and suffering during this unprecedented time. I will continue to treat my patients wholeheartedly with the values that SHU has taught me. To my fellow SHU CON Class of 2019 RNs, we got this!!

Hi! My name is Julia Collins and I graduated from the SHU nursing program in 2019. I currently am a nurse at Columbia New York Presbyterian as my floor was converted to COVID in just the beginning weeks when this virus began taking lives. We take care of patients on ventilators and now have been trained to conduct peritoneal dialysis as many patients with COVID are experiencing kidney failure. Due to PPE shortages we didn't have proper equipment initially and many of us were exposed to the virus. I tested positive for COVID antibodies just last week--as I worked through my mild symptoms I had in march in order to care for other patients that were in far worse conditions--and now have the opportunity to work in research studies at my hospital to donate my blood/plasma to help patients in need. I haven't been able to go home and see my family in months in risk of transmitting the virus due to my exposure on the floor and it has been very difficult. Things are finally starting to look up as we are saving more lives everyday, discharging more patients, and learning more and more about the virus. I wouldn't have been able to be the nurse I am in this pandemic without the SHU Nursing Program and its faculty. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy through this time! GO PIOS!

While the office where I work as an APRN is temporarily closed, I returned to St. Vincents Medical Center where I worked as an RN in the Operating Room for 20 years. I feel blessed to work alongside caring, compassionate, and well educated nurses.

Hi there, I am a proud RN SHU alumni! I am a Geriatric APRN with Prohealth Partners on the frontlines in Skilled Nursing Facilities in CT. I am rounding daily and also serve as a clinical support leader educating and supporting our team on the latest updates and evidenced based practice guidelines. The Covid illness and death toll has been so tragic for all of us. I am so proud of my colleagues for being Covid Warriors, still showing up every day rounding and treating covid patients and really keeping a close eye to be sure they are stable. We have had to have the very tough conversations with families regarding their code status, risks of death and informing family members their loved one has passed away. We are working diligently to quarantine, test, cohort and isolate the best way we can. CNAs, MDs, APRNs, speech therapy, social workers, house keepers, janitorial staff and recreation department are working tirelessly to keep our patients safe and ensure they receive the best care and ensure comfort and dignity in their homes.

Kayla works at Greenwich hospital as an RN in the surgery unit. She expresses how special the bond is between patients and healthcare professionals,“I know it must be scary when I walk into your room in all of my PPE and all you can see is my eyes. My eyes can tell you better than my words that I will do absolutely everything in my power to get you home to your family," said Kayla to one of her patients. She said that they can be terrified when someone walks in wearing masks, gowns, gloves and shields, but she tries to reassure them that she is the person that’s going to take care of them. She believes that the hospital is moving in the right direction, because of everyone working together and continuing to do their part.

I am a 2014 alumni from SHU, and currently an Occupational Therapist currently working on an inpatient COVID recovery unit. The best part about my job is not only helping my patients physically recover, but also restoring faith and hope in their lives by getting them back to doing the things they love! The core values instilled within sacred heart university guided me to a better understanding of how powerful human and spiritual connection is for growth and recovery, and I continue to carry those lessons and values into my daily work.

Nikki is an RN at Montefiore in the Bronx. Everyone in the hospital is on edge and there is a high volume of infected patients. A large number of staff have been sent home to self-quarantine – this is resulting in significant stress on the remaining staff.

Erin is a Registered Respiratory Therapist at Boston Children’s Hospital. She is working nonstop as COVID-19 is having a dramatic impact on the children she serves. Chris is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Boston University School of Public Health currently working from home.