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Following Mary Hesdorffer’s
graduation from high school, she attended
college briefly and then entered the restaurant business. She remained
in the restaurant business until 1992 when she found herself divorced
with two small children and in need of a career that would provide
stability and insurance for a single mother. Returning to college at a
late stage was intimidating and she decided to apply to CNR as it
represented a nurturing environment.
Her mother was a graduate of the class of 1952 and told her stories of
her college days including vivid descriptions of my father handsome in
his navy uniform dancing with her in the Maura Ballroom. Mary
interviewed and was accepted in the Fall of 1992.
She graduated in 1995 with her degree in nursing and spent the first 9
months working at St. Agnes Hospital in White Plains. In Sept 1996 she
accepted a position as a clinical research nurse in oncology at
Columbia University. This position provided her with an opportunity to
work with some of the leading researchers in oncology as well as apply
the bedside nursing skills taught at CNR.
In 1997 she became part of the Columbia University Mesothelioma Center,
actively treating and conducting research in both peritoneal and
pleural mesothelioma. [Mesothelioma is an asbestos related cancer that
affects the lining of the lungs, abdomen or cardiac sac.] She was
fortunate to be trained in this field at an academic institution, which
exposed her to outstanding researchers. In clinical collaboration she
was permitted to observe both pleural and peritoneal surgical
procedures and actively participate in the recovery process. She was
part of a team responsible for administering intravenous, intrapleural
and intraperitoneal chemotherapy, and for monitoring the side effects
and response to therapy in a large cohort of mesothelioma patients.
However, she wanted to accomplish more and realized that to have
academic credibility a graduate degree was required. She had full
tuition benefits at Columbia University but decided that CNR had served
her well in her undergraduate years so she applied and was accepted
into the Nurse Practitioner Program.
She graduated in
2005 and brought new skills into practice with her
mesothelioma patients when her husband, an oncologist, was offered a
position as Chief of Clinical Hematology at Johns Hopkins, they
relocated to Baltimore. The value of her education became apparent as
she was inundated with job offers and she accepted a position as
Medical Liaison to the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. The
Meso Foundation is the nonprofit collaboration of patients and
families, physicians, advocates, and researchers dedicated to
eradicating the life-ending and vicious effects of mesothelioma. The
Foundation promotes research, supports patients and caregivers, and
disseminates the latest clinical information. The foundation awards
grants totaling 1 million per year to scientists working on the basic
science as well as clinical aspects of treating this disease. Mary is
responsible for overseeing this program and the annual symposium as
well as providing medical information to patients and physicians who
treat this disease. Her work in a non profit is a direct reflection of
CNRs mission statement which fosters a concept of
education-for-service.
At Johns Hopkins Mary also volunteers her services as a nurse
practitioner one day per week in an oncology clinic, enabling her to
provide direct patient care as well as prescribe and monitor some of
the latest therapies in oncology.
Today Mary says, “My entire nursing career is a direct reflection of
what I learned at The College of New Rochelle. I was thankful for the
faculty who inspired me to work hard and advance the profession of
nursing.”
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