She's a Doctor AND a Nurse

Every nurse has a story. A story that explains why she – or he – feels called to a profession requiring great personal sacrifice, crazy hours, and extraordinary compassion under circumstances that would cause most of us to crumble.

For my colleague Genevieve Conlin, Director of Nursing at Spaulding Boston and a third generation Charlestown resident, the story really has to do with family. Her parents both worked at Boston City Hospital, and they instilled within her the unique combination of guts and grace that one needs in order to work with people during the most vulnerable chapters of their lives.

Little did they know she would grow up to become a doctor and a nurse.

Gen recently earned her Doctorate in Nursing Practice, or DNP, which means that she has the knowledge to serve as an advocate for patients at the highest level. As the supervisor of 300 Spaulding nurses, Gen understands how national policy decisions will trickle down through our facilities and eventually to the care of individual patients. Despite her hectic schedule, Gen always seems to find time to give back to Charlestown, and to the community’s kids in particular. Many of you would recognize her as a frequent volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club.

I met up with Gen yesterday morning at the Warren-Prescott School, where she fielded questions from Stephanie Forte’s 6^th grade class on everything from wartime amputations to Alzheimer’s disease. She also shared a special message with the kids about how to interact with people in the community who have disabilities: “Imagine what it would be like to tie your shoes with only one hand, or to take the bus if you’re in a wheelchair. If you see someone who needs help, don’t be afraid. Talk to that person and offer assistance. Try to make everyone in Charlestown feel included.”

Special thanks to Principal Michele Davis and to all the teachers and students at Warren-Prescott. Your warm welcome certainly made the Spaulding team feel included!