Thank you to all our alumni #HealthCareHeroes!
Regis College has nearly 6,000 nursing alumni around the world, and about 600 new nurses graduate each year from the university. Many Regis alumni and faculty are working on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Regis salutes and thanks these #healthcareheroes for their bravery and hard work to keep our communities safe.
John Corraccio, RN, BSN '17
Times are definitely unique as a nurse right now, but I could not be prouder to be a nurse at the same time. Regis did an excellent job preparing us for something like this, whether we knew it at the time or not. Regis blessed me with the opportunity to be able to do what I love day in and day out. I was working in the emergency department for a bit, and I am now working as a CVICU nurse which instead of being a “cardiovascular” ICU is a “coronavirus” ICU for the time being. I don’t think the severity of the pandemic resonated with me deeply until I had my first COVID-19 patient under the age of 60. She was a 33-year-old female who ultimately lost her battle with COVID-19 and passed away after days of trying to keep her alive. Working in the emergency department at a level 1 trauma center in Hartford, Connecticut made seeing death commonplace. I became used to it, whether it was a 90-year-old patient succumbing to natural causes or an 18-year-old gang related gunshot victim gone from this earth too soon. For some reason, this 33-year-old female COVID-19 patient affected me more than any other patient I have cared for in my career since leaving Regis. I can’t quite put into words as to why. This virus holds no boundaries and it is uncertain as to who it will affect and how. These times are trying, but we continue to move forward and we will all come out stronger and better because of it. I want to say thank you to Regis for helping me get to the point where I am in my life. Regis has blessed me with the ability to be able to go to work as a registered nurse every day in order to make a difference and to do my part, and for that I am forever grateful.
Daniel Barrile, RN, BSN '17
My mom is a nurse, and she was the biggest reason I decided to go into nursing. As I learned more about the profession—the teamwork and selflessness—I was even more drawn to it. I want to be someone others can rely on during these difficult times. No one really knows what is going to happen or when things will get back to normal, but being a steady and helpful force in people’s lives helps me cope with everything. During my time at Regis, I learned the importance of working together to get the best results. It is something that has really stuck with me, and I try to emphasize in my nursing practice.
Kendra Keefe, RN, BSN ’09
I am motivated by the kindness the world has been sharing during these difficult and unprecedented times. Seeing all the random acts of kindness—the meals we have received on the front lines, the signs outside of the hospitals, my family and friends sending money for a coffee—helps make it just a little bit easier. I think it is so important to try to stay positive and calm and let our patients know they are the number one priority. We are trying to keep them as safe as possible because we genuinely care!
I am so grateful to have had several important women in my life who helped solidify my love for nursing. During high school, I shadowed my aunt who was a nurse in a geriatric office. She was so kind, compassionate, and knowledgeable with her patients, and I knew I wanted to make her proud and follow in her footsteps. In my junior and senior year of high school, I also watched my boyfriend’s mother (he is now my husband!) take care of her husband who was diagnosed with ALS. She was an emergency room nurse who put her career on hold in order to take care of him. I am so thankful for them both for inspiring me and helping me become the nurse I am today!
Stacie Corliss Bowkett, RN, BSN ’09
Knowing that I can make a difference motivates me each day during these unprecedented times. I have always been driven by the love of helping others, and I am grateful for the opportunity to rise to the challenge and take care of those most in need. I am proud of all the health care workers for coming together during these difficult times. Thank you to Regis for teaching me the sisterhood of nursing and to never quit!
Lauren Lauria-Marcinowski ’13
I have always been passionate about caring for people and am also a fitness instructor/wellness coach. When both of my children started school full-time, I decided to study nursing and found the perfect program at Lawrence Memorial/Regis College. While at Regis, I learned to always advocate and do the right thing for the patients and never compromise my standards. I graduated in 2013 and am currently a nurse in an assisted living facility. I ended up contracting COVID-19, but I have since recovered and completed my quarantine period. I am back at work and picking up extra shifts to help cover for coworkers who have also contracted the virus. Most health care workers have a natural tendency to want to help others and do it at all costs! Stay strong and have faith—we will get through this together!!
Charlene C. Hollins, MSN, FNP-C '19
I have been a nurse for over 10 years in emergency medicine. I decided to pursue an advance degree to work autonomously in an environment that I enjoy so much. I am motivated by my patients and families. This is what I do, and I love doing it. Regis taught me that even with limited resources you can save lives.
Brooke Yanchewski, RN, BSN ’16
I’ve always been someone who wanted to help others, and now I get to help mothers welcome their babies every day working as a labor and delivery nurse at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester, MA! With an 18-month-old and a newborn as of 4/15/2020, my motivation was—and still is—to keep them healthy. Working while being pregnant during this pandemic was challenging because of all of the unknowns with pregnancy and COVID-19. My coworkers have been amazing. I’m very thankful for them and the teamwork that we continue to show each day—not just during this pandemic.
Jamei (King) Murphy, MSN, FNP-C, CWS '13
My mom is a nurse, and I started working in a doctors office at the age of 16. I’ve always admired the profession and was drawn to making a positive impact and bettering the lives of others. My patients motivate me, and I know they greatly appreciate the time we take with them. All of my Regis professors and clinical instructors were so gracious and compassionate. As a nurse educator in my profession, I’ve taken their example and put it into practice. My fellow nurses and students definitely appreciate this quality.
Denise Iacoviello FNP-C '16
As an adult learner and RN for over 30 years, I am grateful for my career as a nurse and since 2016 as an NP. I am a surgical nurse practitioner and am on the front lines to cover the shortage. I am at Winchester Hospital on an inpatient unit. I am humbled, stressed, and scared—not only for the health care workers but our patients and families. This is a very scary time, but we will all get through it together. I wouldn't change my career at all.
Justin Resil, DNP-S, FNP, CME, TNCC, ENPC, BSN-RN '18
One of the main reasons that I chose to get into medicine stems from the overwhelming history that my family has established for providing healthcare both in the Greater Boston area and Brockton area. Our greatest engine of service has been our private clinic Resil Medical Associates, where we have not only provided care to the community but also worked with immigrants from around the world and instructed/trained future providers. It’s been an amazing experience. Helping out your fellow man is not only a calling in my profession but also my faith. As a Christian and a nurse practitioner, it is my duty to administer care with grace and compassion. My hope is that these acts of kindness will inspire others to do the same and become active in helping to fight this disease.
While at Regis, I learned to be patient, organized, and above all else, sensitive to the needs of others. Many times you have to build trust with your patient and always advocate for them and keep their wishes as the focal point. I am currently working at the Boston Convention Center for Boston Hope. The sight is the first field hospital in well over 100+ years to be operational in Boston. I am amazed to see how many people have chosen to participate. It has been a great blessing to not only serve here, but also have the opportunity to work with another Regis alum. Dr Ana Gomes and I have both enjoyed the chance to not only catch up on our strides in our respective fields but also to work in tandem as we used to when we were in clinicals together during our BSN years!
Kaitlyn Cowden, RN, BSN '18
I became a nurse because I wanted to give back and care for patients in the same way that I was cared for when I was young. I grew up watching my parents in the medical field and was drawn to wanting to do my part in caring for people. I fell in love with the profession and am so thankful I have the opportunity to do it each day. It's one of the most rewarding things I've ever done.
I am doing my best to face each day with positivity in hopes of keeping myself, my coworkers, and family/friends going through this uncertain time. I am fighting alongside my parents who are also working the front lines, and I'm so very proud of them. My coworkers motivate me each day to get through this—it takes a team to take on a pandemic such as this and I'm honored to be a part of that team.”
Pauline Seremetis ’19
I decided to pursue a career in nursing because I've always wanted to make a difference on others lives. I currently work at Beth Israel Medical Center in Needham in the Emergency Department as a Technician and plan to be a neurology nurse in the future.
Each day I go into work, I am motivated by my fellow healthcare workers and know that we will get through this difficult time together as a team. Regis College taught me to never give up even when times can be tough, and I continue to have a positive attitude to help lift my colleagues during this pandemic. I want to thank Regis and my professors as you all hold a special place in my heart.
Lucy Kirakous, RN, BSN '18
I moved to the United States from Aleppo, Syria nine years ago. I have always wanted to be a nurse and provide care to the vulnerable population. Being an oncology nurse was my dream after losing my dear father battling this disease at a very young age. Never in a million years would I have thought I would see a pandemic such as the one that we are facing as health care workers today. Each day I go to work feeling overwhelmed, but I am doing my best to stay calm and have a positive attitude. Front liners are here with you and will do our best to help you. We become stronger when we unite. I am thankful for all the health care workers around the world for their continuous amazing work. We are here with you and we are here to save your life!
Mary Boulos, RN, BSN '18
I became a nurse because I like to show hope to the people who have lost it when they became sick. I work with dialysis patients, so I keep a positive attitude and motivate them to keep going when they feel like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. I am motivated during these difficult times when I try to put myself in their shoes. I consider my patients family and I treat them as so and make sure I do everything I can to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the clinic. I love what I do, and I am beyond proud of all the nurses who are battling this.
Katryna Veasey ’20
The NCAA recently paid tribute to one of our Regis student-athletes, nursing major Katryna Veasey ’20, who is working hard at BIDMC Milton on a COVID-19 floor. The NCAA reached out when they saw a post about Kat on the @RegisWBB Twitter and invited her to a video interview with NCAA president Mark Emmert for National Student-Athlete Day to talk about her situation and experience as a volleyball and basketball player. Watch the video here. We’re so proud of Kat and we look forward to officially welcoming her to the alumni family of Regis nurses.