When MJ sees a gap, he asks himself what he can do to fill it. He cares for children with cancer, a calling that requires clinical excellence and a big heart—MJ has both in abundance. His patients say he makes them feel safe and cared for, and parents compliment his easy rapport with kids and his calm and confident bedside manner. If it seems like he was born for this job, it’s because MJ grew up caring for his younger siblings and cousins and is the son of a 30-year veteran oncology nurse.
MJ is always striving for excellence and goes out of his way to learn more. He became a national pediatric chemotherapy/biotherapy instructor so that he could train new nurses on the unit. He designed an improvement model for educating new pediatric oncology nurses, and worked with colleagues to design streamlined communication so that new nurses could move easily through orientation among various preceptors. He thinks creatively about how to welcome nurses into the unit, help them feel confident and a sense of belonging—all to ensure each child gets optimal care. As a relatively early career nurse himself, he remembers the power of good mentorship and pays it forward.
MJ has already achieved national-level certifications in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, both of which are extremely difficult to achieve. Colleagues say they can’t wait to see what MJ will continue to accomplish, as he leads with positivity and a commitment to clinical greatness.