Santos, Rita

About Alyssa Goncalves It was during a volunteer service project with AmeriCorp after college that Alyssa Goncalves, NP, discovered that nursing was the path for her. She served at a subacute medical facility for houseless men in Washington, DC, that was run by a group of compassionate and talented nursing professionals. “I had never considered nursing, but being a part of that team as a volunteer (and later I returned as a staff nurse) was the greatest honor, learning experience and joy of my life,” she says. Alyssa earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Biology at Wright State University (Ohio), a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Cleveland State University (Ohio) and her Master of Family Nurse Practitioner degree at University of Cincinnati. “I am a dialysis NP. I help those with kidney failure maximize their current health, blood pressure and fluid status, with hopes of either getting a kidney transplant or achieving their quality-of-life goals while managing this challenging chronic condition,” Alyssa says. By educating patients and working with them on a path forward, Alyssa says she does not look backwards or judge but instead presents options to support those in her care. “My patients endlessly teach me the power of the human spirit and that fierce compassion wins,” she says. “I am forever humbled by the gift of getting to connect and walk with my patients through the highs and lows of their lives. It is the honor of my life.” In her own words… Who is or was the most influential people/role models in your life? One of my biggest role models in life and career is Mary Jordan. She is the Nurse Practitioner managing the Washington, DC, facility for houseless men. What was your first job growing up? What do you remember about it? I was a newspaper girl! I remember taking this job very seriously as people were very adamant to receive their paper on time daily! What is your favorite food? Movie? There is a food truck that serves the most delicious Filipino dishes in Cleveland. I am a fan of true documentaries on any streaming platforms. What was your most challenging subject in school? I was most intimidated in Spanish class as I am not innately skilled at languages. If you could sit down to dinner with anyone (alive or deceased) who would it be and why? My husband. With our two young kids… it can feel like opportunities to spend quality time with each other are rare. In addition to medicine, what are you passionate about? I am passionate about equality and vulnerable communities. People deserve to thrive and be who they are. What are your hobbies, interests? When I am not at work I love to spend time outside with my family. Also, I have been doing CrossFit for the last almost 10 years. I love the community at the gym and working to be the best version of myself. Do you have pets? We have an 8-year-old labradoodle, Kona. What is something most people don’t know about you? I strive to be authentic with loved and trusted people in my life. Even if something is not going so great in my life, with a little humor and a listening ear, it can be made a little better.

About Devin Kinney Devin Kinney, NP, had what she says most people would consider a pretty awesome job after graduating from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Management degree. But after working a few years, she felt she was missing something that would never be fulfilled with her business degree. “As the oldest of four kids, I have always had this need to be the helper and fixer of things,” she recalls. “That being said, it didn’t take long for me to decide that nursing, and ultimately becoming a nurse practitioner, was the right career path for me.” So, Devin earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and then her Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner degrees from IU South Bend. She worked as a registered nurse at Memorial Hospital of South Bend beginning in 2015, where she worked in the childbirth unit and the special care obstetrics unit. Her decision to focus on family practice came from individual clinical experiences. “Patients needed a provider they could trust to care for them through the good and the bad. I wanted to be that person for them,” she says. As a nurse practitioner, she cares for patients from infancy to the elderly, providing everything from physical to mental care. Devin hopes her patients, who are often scared and unsure, can find security under her care. “It is my job as a nurse practitioner to earn my patients trust and for them to believe that I can provide the care they deserve.” In her own words… Who is or was the most influential people/role models in your life? My husband – he has supported and encouraged me from the start when I decided to go back to school. He held down the fort with two kids, while I worked and went to school – without complaint, ever. What was your first job growing up? What do you remember about it? I worked in retail at Gap Outlet starting at age 15. I will never forget folding the jean wall over and over! What is your favorite food? Anything Italian – lasagna, manicotti, stuffed shells. I also can always eat tacos! What was your best/worst subjects in school growing up? For the most part, math seemed to click for me. I could usually work my way through a math problem. Geography and history were much harder – it was the pure memorization that made those subjects difficult! If you could sit down to dinner with anyone (alive or deceased) who would it be and why? This one is easy for me – my grandma. We were very close, and she was an incredibly strong woman. She passed away three weeks before I was married, and I would love to sit down and tell her all about my life since then. She lived for her family and would have loved my husband and two boys like her own. In addition to medicine, what are you passionate about? My family! I have two boys, along with two Labrador retrievers. My husband and kids make my world go round and were huge influences on my decision to become an NP! What are your hobbies, interests? I am a (warm) outdoor person! I love being outside when the sun is shining and could spend 10 hours a day at the beach. I love to fish and could have a line in the water all day long. I also enjoy reading and doing puzzles with my kids. I would love to start playing recreational volleyball again as that has always been an interest of mine! What is something most people don’t know about you? I have had rheumatoid arthritis since I was a junior in high school and feel that it has helped me relate to friends, family and patients with chronic conditions.