What made you decide to pursue nursing?

I always enjoyed the sciences growing up and wanted to take care of people. Nursing is both an art and a science, and I see every day how holistic nursing care makes for a powerfully positive impact and improves patient outcomes.

What was one of your favorite experiences at Ramapo College?

I was incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to experience an immersion with a director of quality that established in me a solid foundation to have a love of data and quality, which led me to be laser-focused on high-quality patient care.

Who at Ramapo had the greatest influence on you, and what did you learn from them?

Dr. Kathy Burke, assistant dean of nursing was the most positive influence on me during my time at Ramapo. Not only did I learn a lot and achieve academically under her guidance, but I also came to appreciate the impact that education can have on your career, and that ongoing, lifelong learning is critically important as well. Fast-forward, and today, Dr. Burke sits on our advisory board at Morristown for our nurse residency program. Her profound wisdom and influence on nurse leadership also showed me the myriad advantages of academic and hospital partnerships.

What are some skills you learned at Ramapo that you still use today?

Time management and critical thinking, while fully appreciating the value of collaboration and teamwork.

Throughout your career, you’ve held numerous leadership positions. What moments have most resonated with you and why?

My career is so much more than the COVID pandemic, but I’m proud of what we did at Morristown Medical Center during that time of crisis, in terms of collaboration. We stayed completely focused on doing what’s right for the patient, and that was what got us through it. That, and the power of teamwork at its absolute best—that time in my career was nothing short of remarkable.

In addition, I’ve always enjoying mentoring and supporting my fellow healthcare colleagues at the hospital, both nursing and non-nursing professionals, and I value what everyone brings to the table.

And the best moment for me professionally was when I became chief nursing officer.

What advice would you give to students or anyone who is looking to follow in your path?

It sounds obvious, but you truly must work hard and put the time and effort into your own professional development. There will be rough days, for sure, but lean on your support system and take advantage of the resources available to you to help you be successful—and remember, how you define success is completely unique to you.

Your professional timeline and career opportunities don’t always align. Certainly, challenges and disappointments will happen, and you may not always get the job you want when you want it, or when you feel you are ready for it. Learn from those experiences, take the feedback and use those letdowns to help you grow, develop and improve.