Spotlight on the Nursing Department

Alexandra Betancourt-Pérez is a nurse in Albany Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Looking back at Sage, what she knows was invaluable was how her instructors shared their experiences as nurses, and got into the details. “I was so well prepared,” she says. “My professors really cared. They love nursing so they want to make sure that we’re good nurses.” 

“Teaching is a lot like coaching women through labor,” says Certified Nurse Midwife and Associate Professor of Nursing Marcy Fiet. “The work can be hard, but the rewards at the end are amazing.”

Patricia Klimkewicz earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing and her MBA at Sage. Sage played a key role in her career development, she said, and helped her excel in leadership roles in academia, health care and the military. 

Donnie Tessitore earned a Nursing master’s degree and post-master’s certificate at Sage. He is an acute care nurse practitioner at Albany Medical Center and a preceptor for students in Sage’s graduate Nursing programs. In 2020, he was named Albany Med’s Employee of the Year. More than 100 colleagues nominated him for the honor, several specifically citing his mentorship. 

Chelsea Uzibor  has seen her view of nursing expanded at Sage. She attended a Public Health class during her sophomore year, which, she says, opened her eyes to a broader understanding of health care and has her thinking of ways she might have an impact on the community.