, a private, Catholic college providing a pathway for students to build careers of achievement and lives of purpose, today announced the appointment of Dr. Joanna Hillman as dean for health, science, and general education. In this role, she will oversee Trocaire’s biology, general studies, management, healthcare management, and technology programs, and supervise the director of behavioral science.

“Joanna has been a vital member of our campus community and this promotion is well-deserved,” said Dr. Jennifer Blickwedehl, chief academic affairs officer, Ģ����ý. “This is a newly created position at Trocaire and Joanna’s expertise in curricular design, assessment, and online pedagogy will be invaluable as we continue to create a more holistic and integrated approach to academic life for our students.”

Dr. Hillman joined Trocaire in 2018 as a biology instructor and most recently was a professor of biology. Her campus leadership spans the faculty senate, the IDEA committee, and many interdepartmental projects. Dr. Hillman has also served as the Roswell Scholars program coordinator, faculty supervisor for Phi Theta Kappa, and is a member of the Middle States Steering Committee.

Dr. Hillman holds a doctorate in cellular and molecular biology from the University at Buffalo/Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, and a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from University at Albany. She resides in Eden.

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Name: Melissa Archer, PMHNP-BC, MSN, BSN
Grad Year: 2000
Program: Nursing
Title: Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner,

Originally published January 21, 2021 — Updated September 2024

In Her Own Words:
Like many high school graduates, I attended college with aspirations. I had hoped to become a physician, join the military and travel the world. However, the universe had different plans and I ended up a divorced mother of two wonderful daughters. Although, I did join the military and went to college, my other aspirations were on hold.

While working a factory job and living paycheck to paycheck, one day I heard about Ģ����ý on the radio. Nursing seemed like an interesting avenue to explore, and I would finally be able to enter the medical profession and help people. I wondered how I would juggle being an active parent, paying bills, and complete this RN program, but took a leap of faith and jumped right in!

Luckily, Sister Marian Mullen, the Dean of Students at the time, was there to help me every step of the way. She was such a support, and it was a turning point in my life. Sister Marian took the time to listen and encouraged me to apply for scholarship support. As a single mom, the scholarship I earned and the family-like atmosphere at Trocaire helped me excel and complete the RN program.

The clinical instructors I worked with thoroughly prepared me for real-life nursing. Throughout my two-decade career as a RN, I could always tell who a Trocaire graduate was—they have compassion down to a science. After Trocaire, I earned my BSN and MSN & currently practice as a Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at SENSES Medical Wellness, PLLC at 360 Genesee Street (on the corner of Genesee and Hickory St.), my family’s medical practice on the Eastside of Buffalo. It’s surreal to go from such humble beginnings, and not only succeed but come back to the same street I grew up on and help others do the same! My goal is to be a change agent in everything I do, while also highlighting the importance of mental health. In doing so, others will be helped to find the best versions of their selves, their families and their communities.

To this end, I lead a 21 person FEMA funded Crisis Counseling Program helping Erie County residents, primarily in the inner city mentally and emotionally cope with the fallout of COVID and then the TOPS massacre on 5/14/2022. Additionally, I worked as a maternal/fetal community education specialist and taught parenting classes and educational seminars, helping parents dealing with challenging circumstances

Additionally, in 2023, I co-founded and is the lead consultant for the Black Women’s Wellness Village of Buffalo, whose mission is to address health inequities for women of color through a radical reimagining of the healthcare experience. by listening and using their voices to advocate, educate and ultimately open a wellness center for women.

Melissa is a US. Army National Guard veteran and has been awarded numerous awards and accolades. Most recently the Black Achievers Award, Distinguished Trocaire Alumni Award & NAACP Presidential Award. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau, an international honor nursing society and a current scholar participant of Sigma’s Virtual Mini-Academy: Global Advocacy

She is a board member of Mental Health Advocates of WNY, Crisis Services, Mount Mercy Board of Trustees and Women’s Health Broadcast Board. She is an Open Buffalo Emerging Leader Graduate and on the advisory board. She is the Vice President of the Buffalo Chapter of Girl Friends, Inc.

Thinking back over 20 years ago, Melissa states, “I never would have imagined a Trocaire commercial would have so positively transformed my life. My advice to anyone looking for a better life or career change: look no further than Trocaire. No matter your focus, do it and now! For those of you already working or new to your profession, do self-care every day and make sure your physical and mental health are healthy. Especially during these challenging times of a pandemic and political and social unrest. It is important to check in, so we don’t check out!” Trocaire means everything to me—it is where my start began. My education gave me the personal fortitude, voice, and confidence to make a better life for me and my family. I will always carry on Trocaire’s Mercy values in everything I do and hope to serve as inspiration for the next generation of healthcare professionals.”

The post January Alumni Spotlight: Melissa Archer ‘00 appeared first on About.

Allied health programs are less popular than nursing school, but they require less schooling and are in just as high demand.

While the entire healthcare industry seeks to boost its talent pipeline some careers requiring less schooling fly under the radar even though they are in high demand. Those including Radiologic or Surgery Technicians, Medical Assistants and Massage Therapists.

Read the Full Article .

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Starting this September, Ģ����ý is offering Buffalo residents in the 14220 and 14210 zip codes an opportunity to explore healthcare career opportunities through its new Health Career Exploration Learn and Earn Program.  Buffalo Common Council Member Christopher Scanlon is supporting the program through a $50,000 grant.

Designed for high school graduates with some or no college experience, the 10-week flexible program, which begins Sept. 26, enables participants to learn about the healthcare system and various career opportunities available within healthcare.

“This program is a unique opportunity for those who may be considering a career in healthcare, but not sure if they are ready to take the next step,” said Trocaire President Bassam M. Deeb, Ph.D. “Participants who successfully complete all the program requirements will not only be prepared to decide if a career in healthcare is right for them, but also decide the right career path to pursue.”

“Ģ����ý has a long history in my district of being a pipeline to the health care sector across the City of Buffalo and Western New York,” Council Member Scanlon said.  “I am pleased to lend my support to Trocaire’s effort to provide high school graduates in the city the opportunity to learn about careers in health care and potentially move on to earn a degree in the field in which there is an extremely strong demand.”

Held online, the Health Career Exploration Learn and Earn Program will not require specific class meeting times but provide a weekly check-in with a healthcare career coach and mentor. Career opportunities highlighted in the program include nursing, medical assisting, radiologic technology, healthcare management, surgical technology, massage therapy, healthcare informatics, and others.

Participants who complete the full program with receive a $500 completion bonus in addition to a Trocaire Certificate of Completion. For those interested in taking their healthcare career to the next step, participants may have their Certificate of Completion converted into three college credits to be applied towards a Trocaire certificate or degree program. For those participants who decide to continue and start their healthcare certificate or degree program in 2023 at Trocaire, they will also be granted a $500 Trocaire scholarship.

Current Trocaire students are not eligible for this program. If interested in more information or to apply for the Health Career Exploration Learn and Earn Program, visit /academics/workforce-development/healthcare-career-exploration-learn-and-earn/.

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Name: Thomas J. Bubar
Grad Year: 1975
Program: AAS Nursing

Veteran of the Month and Outstanding Alumnus, year after year!

In July  2021, Congressman Chris Jacobs named Thomas Bubar Veteran of the Month.

“Tom served our nation honorably in the Vietnam War and provided preventative medical care to his fellow service members, for which he earned numerous medals,” Jacobs said.

In November, Tom was also presented with the Vietnam War Veteran Pin by Congressman Brian Higgins.  Following his military service, Tom came back to Western New York to serve our community, and would later go on to teach Nursing and Medical Assisting to the next generation.

After completing a degree in Sociology at Millard Fillmore College (now SUNY Buffalo), Tom came to Trocaire for his Nursing degree, and a few years later, received his Master’s Degree in Nursing from UB.

Thanks to his dedication as a revered Nursing and Medical Assisting Instructor, hundreds of students have followed in his path.

“Growing up, I always wanted to be a teacher. I enlisted in the Army in 1970. After basic training and medical training, and after serving stateside for nine months, I was sent to Vietnam. While in the Army, I was introduced to the medical field. I served as a preventative medicine technician where I sprayed for mosquitos in Vietnam, tested water quality, and inspected the sanitary conditions of our care center. I also helped my fellow servicemen by performing preventative medical procedures.”

Bubar is grateful that Trocaire opened up doors for him.  In a recent interview, Tom shared his heartfelt gratitude:  “ Trocaire opened doors for me; it represents hope and faith to me. They were very helpful with Veterans’ benefits and I remember having really great instructors. Back in 1975 there was even a basketball team! I played guard and we came in 4^th place in the Medaille Centennial.”

But Tom’s devotion to his alma mater did not stop on the basketball court.  A former member of the Alumni Council and loyal donor for over 40 years, Tom is also a member of the Sr. Barbara Ciarico Legacy Society.  He has generously arranged to support scholarship funds for male Nursing and Medical Assisting students through his estate plans.

“After Vietnam, I decided to pursue the medical field because I knew I would always have a job and I enjoyed helping people.If it hadn’t been for Trocaire, I wouldn’t be where I am today.  I’ve put three children through college and they are all contributing to society as a teacher, a product manager and a CPA because I was able to provide them with an education. 

Tom may have been recognized as Veteran of the Month, but at Trocaire, we consider him an outstanding alumnus, year after year!  Congratulations, Tom!

The post February Alumni Spotlight: Thomas J. Bubar ’75 appeared first on About.

As an opportunity college, we strive to support students who may be facing personal or financial challenges in their lives while on the road to a career-oriented education,” Trocaire President Dr. Bassam Deeb said. “Scholarships like the ones being presented today by KeyBank are part of that support system. We are thankful for their assistance and encouragement of our students, knowing that they will soon be part of our local healthcare community, helping others in need.”

Congratulations to our student scholarships recipients – Kristin Fisher, Kathleen S McAnaney, Mary Raczka, and Jessica Lewis, along with Briana Boyette and Felicia Herrmann (not pictured).

We are grateful for the opportunities KeyBank is making possible for our students to complete their degrees and serve our community as capable and compassionate nurses, trained in the Mercy tradition.

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Name: Isadore A. De Marco MSN, LNHA
Grad Year: 1993
Program: AAS Nursing
Current title & position: Administrator,  Continuing Care Retirement Community

What drew you to a career in healthcare/nursing?

I had family members that were licensed nurses and great role models, and I always had an interest in pursuing a career in the healthcare field. My original goal was to become a registered nurse and then a nurse practitioner. I completed my Nurse Practitioner licensure in 1999, and then went on a recommendation from a friend and mentor to pursue a license in Healthcare Administration, which I completed in 2004, receiving my Nursing Home Administrator licensure.  

Describe your Trocaire experience. What does Trocaire mean to you?

Trocaire was a wonderful experience and the foundation on which I was able to build my career. Receiving my first degree (AAS Nursing) allowed me to obtain my first job in healthcare, a charge nurse with the McGuire Group at Seneca Manor Healthcare Facility, which I worked the first 4 years of my career. Trocaire was a wonderful learning environment, with faculty that cared about you and your success in the program. There was a sense of family, which made learning both exciting and rewarding. On a side note, I met my beautiful wife of 22 years at Ģ����ý in the RN program.  

What do you do now, and why do you love it?

I have been a nursing home administrator for 17 years. Being a nurse first and foremost, I enjoy helping and caring for individuals in need. Working with the elderly is very rewarding, knowing each day that you are making a true difference in someone’s life. I also love being part of a team that provides and strives each day for excellence in care for our residents. I have been the administrator at Canterbury Woods for 14 years. We have a great interdisciplinary team—it starts with our certified nursing assistants and licensed nurses, and extends to the vital services our ancillary departments provide as well.   

Any advice you’d like to share with soon-to-be or new nurses?

Work hard each and every day, stay focused and most importantly, find your niche, as a career in nursing offers so many possibilities!  

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What led you to the Nursing Program at Trocaire?

I have always wanted to work in healthcare since I was a little girl. When starting college, I wanted a fast track to get into the field and start my career. Trocaire was that route for me. I completed my prerequisites prior to applying, and so the 2-year registered nursing program was what was next on my checklist to complete for my career.

Describe your Trocaire experience. What does Trocaire mean to you?

Graduating from Trocaire was truly an accomplishment. If you talk to any nurse, regardless of school, it is tough. Thankfully, I did have some great faculty and staff support throughout my education who I still keep in touch with now.

What do you do now, and why do you love it?

I am a registered nurse on the at BestSelf. An ACT team provides mobile intensive treatment and support to people with psychiatric disabilities. This position is everything I have been looking for since first graduating nursing school. For some clients, we are their only support, which makes our job very rewarding.

What do you find fascinating about the mental health field specifically?

Mental health is so interesting to me and always has been.  You see so many different presentations of mental illness when working in the field, and it just fascinates me more than medical diagnoses. The brain is such a powerful organ– by studying and working in mental health you’ll never run out of new things to learn about it.

Any advice you like to share to new nurses or someone interested in Trocaire?

To anyone interested in nursing or newer nurses, give everything a shot. Explore a bit in each specialty, especially in clinicals or whenever you’re able, as you might not know how much you enjoy something. Or, you could be dead set on a specialty and end up hating it in clinicals. There are so many options for nursing careers, from work-from-home insurance options to surgical nursing to cosmetic nursing. Find your niche—this will help you thrive. Nursing is a hard career and a lot of work but it is so rewarding and enjoyable when you find the part of healthcare you enjoy.

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Note: Felice participated in P-TECH (Pathways in Technology), a state-funded private-public partnership launched in 2013 that worked to prepare thousands of New York high school students for high-skills jobs in technology, manufacturing, healthcare and finance. Trocaire, the Lackawanna City School District, Erie I BOCES and Catholic Health were chosen as the first P-TECH program in Western New York, one they named HOPE (Health Occupation Pathways to Employment). Possible degrees included Surgical Technology, Radiologic Technology and Health Information Technology.

How did participation in the PTECH program help you be successful during your time at Trocaire?

Other than providing the textbooks and learning materials free of charge, the PTECH program provided the best thing every student needs: support. College can be mentally and emotionally draining. There are points in the semester where you feel like a failure or you can’t get anything done. Whenever I felt like that, I always had someone I could talk to in the program who could reinvigorate me and get me back on my game. They were never judgmental and always wanted the best for me, and without that support I don’t think I would’ve been as successful as I was.

Describe your Trocaire experience. What does Trocaire mean to you?

Trocaire felt like home and I mean that in the best way possible. Everyone, from your classmates to the director of your respective program, wants to help and see you succeed. For me, Trocaire stands for community, welcomeness, and caring. Trocaire really feels like everyone is part of the same family and they bring that same attitude to the community as well.

What do you do now and why do you love it?

Currently I am a surgical technologist at Roswell Park. I really love the job and the place because I feel like I make a positive difference in people’s lives. Every successful surgery, every patient interaction makes me feel like I’m part of something greater. It feels good to know that I’m able to help people everyday just by doing my job.

Any advice you’d like to share with someone interested in Trocaire?

Trocaire cares about the student; I fully recommend applying. Once accepted my advice is to know and use your resources provided to you. They’re there for a reason! That’s what makes Trocaire different compared to other schools. There hasn’t been one professor who wasn’t open to discuss anything I struggled in or wanted to work on. Which is something that may come harder to bigger colleges.

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Name: Stacy Bastian, BSN, RN, LNHA
Graduation Year: 2008 (AAS); 2012 (Bachelor’s)
Program: Nursing
Current Title: Administrator, Absolute Care Aurora Park, RCA Healthcare

What led you to the Nursing program at Trocaire? Why did you want to explore the healthcare field?

In high school, I thought I wanted to be a teacher. I ended up going to nursing school because a friend did. As a result, I developed a true passion for the healthcare field.   After working as an LPN for 13 years, I decided to go back for my RN. Trocaire was highly recommended due to there excellent reputation, student-to-teacher ratio and overall program. After graduating from the AAS program, Trocaire was my school of choice for obtaining my BSN as well because I was familiar with the quality of education and preparedness they provided.

Describe your Trocaire experience.

My experience at Trocaire was amazing. It pushed me to work hard, develop confidence and go after my dreams and aspirations.  I developed discipline and drive that has carried me in my career. Trocaire’s education provided a foundation of a commitment to excellence. I appreciate my time at Trocaire and frequently recommend the program. I am proud to say my daughter Victoria graduated from Trocaire’s RN program this past December.

What is the most important thing you took away from Trocaire? Were there any obstacles or challenges to obtaining your education?

The most important thing I took away from Trocaire is my love for being a nurse. It is a lifestyle. I take great pride in making a difference in the lives of others through nursing. Life is full of challenges and obstacles; Trocaire taught me that character is defined by how you respond to these challenges and obstacles. I also appreciate the role of being a mentor as Trocaire’s staff provided great motivation and leadership to the students.

What do you do now and why do you love it?

I am currently a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator for Absolute Care of Aurora Park. I assumed this role 2 weeks prior to the pandemic. It has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding roles I have had. I love this opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the residents and families by establishing a foundation of excellence in care for this facility. I work with an amazing team that is committed to growth and demonstrates compassion to those they care for. It gives me great pride to provide the residents with dignity and respect when they are most vulnerable.

Any advice you would like to share to new nurses or someone interested in Trocaire?

I will tell you what I told my daughter Victoria when she was considering a career in nursing and an education at Trocaire.  Nursing school is not meant to be easy, in fact it will be one of the hardest things you will experience. The expectation of a nurse is to potentially have people’s lives in their hands. Trocaire will prepare you to be clinically sound, empathetic, and professional. They will support you and provide an atmosphere that promotes success. In the end, the result is a career in a field that provides a fulfillment that is truly priceless!

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