Melanie's Story: In Her Words

When I began my collegiate career at Towson University, I didn’t necessarily realize that nursing was my true passion. In fact, I graduated from Towson with a bachelor’s degree in economics, with a minor in Spanish.

However, as I was finishing up those degrees, something inside me shifted.

I had several friends who were nurses, and I deeply admired the care they provided. Plus, I had personal experiences with hospice care while supporting family members, which profoundly impacted me. That's when I realized I wanted to become a nurse.

I started my nursing journey at Community College of Baltimore County - Essex, earning my associate's degree in nursing. I went on to earn my bachelor of science in nursing degree at Stevenson University followed by my master of nursing degree at Johns Hopkins University. Prior to joining the hospitalist team at GBMC, I worked with the colorectal surgery team at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

For more than three years now, I've been working as a hospitalist at GBMC. My role involves rounding on inpatient medical/telemetry units across the hospital. It's a challenging, yet rewarding, job — the variety of diagnoses we consistently encounter makes each day a little different and interesting. It's like solving a mystery, trying to figure out what's going on with each patient to help them to the best of my ability. I also serve as a lead advanced practitioner for my team, overseeing ten hospitalists. It's a role that allows me to combine my clinical skills with leadership and teamwork.

What drew me to GBMC was not only the clinical diversity but also the sense of community. I feel appreciated and valued here, which makes all the difference. The culture of gratitude is evident from the welcoming demeanor of leaders and staff to gestures like providing turkeys for Thanksgiving, the annual Crab Feast, and various meals offered as a “thank you” for our work.

I believe nursing, especially as a nurse practitioner, offers endless opportunities. Whether it's direct patient care, teaching, administration, or even flight nursing, there's so much you can do. It can even help prepare you to navigate and advocate for yourself and your family as you navigate healthcare. It's a career where you can be truly creative and make a difference.

Outside of work, I cherish spending time with my family, including my partner of 20 years and our two cats. I grew up in the Baltimore area, but now I call Kent Island home with my family.

We love exploring the Chesapeake Bay, traveling, cooking, and just enjoying life together. Balancing work and personal life is important to me—it's all about finding that harmony.