New graduate nurses, front row left to right, Courtney McMahon, Rebecca Van Tassel, Jessica Kennelley, Brittany Gates, Rene Solem, Irene Tyler, Lisa Kennedy, Jasmine Lord, Jesula Sanon, Tiffany Woodcock, Jillian Douglas, Jamie Rogers, Melissa McIntosh, are pictured with Lorraine Diggs, vice president of nursing UPMC Chautauqua WCA. Back row from left are Kristin Kinnear, Justine Dillon, Spencer Snyder, Shannon Eggleston, Ericka Beichner, Maureen Kibbe, Kris Nelson, Ericka Gowan, Abigail Weaver, Shelby Curtin, Jaci Spoon, Gerline Andre and Meghan Lulas.

UPMC Chautauqua WCA welcomed 26 graduate nurses who joined the team of more than 1,100 men and women at UPMC Chautauqua WCA.

New graduate nurses are: Gerline Andre, Ericka Beichner, Shelby Curtin, Justine Dillon, Jillian Douglas, Shannon Eggleston, Brittany Gates, Ericka Gowan, Lisa Kennedy, Jessica Kennelley, Maureen Kibbe, Kirstin Kinnear, Jasmine Lord, Meghan Lulas, Melissa McIntosh, Courtney McMahon, Kris Nelson, Jamie Rogers, Jesula Sanon, Spencer Snyder, Rene Solem, Jaci Spoon Irene Tyler, Rebecca Van Tassel, Abigail Weaver and Tiffany Woodcock.

“It’s our people that make us so special,” said Betsy T. Wright, UPMC Chautauqua WCA president. “One of the most important measures of a hospital’s strength and success is the quality of its staff. We consider our people our greatest asset. Our nurses play a critical and essential role in the care of our patients and service to families, visitors, and community. We are fortunate to be served by highly skilled, experienced, and knowledgeable staff and welcome our new graduates who join the world-class care of UPMC Chautauqua WCA.”

Invested and committed to fostering opportunities for professional development, UPMC Chautauqua WCA offers many nurse career options including, cardiology, case management, chemical dependency/drug addiction, emergency medicine, infection control, inpatient medical rehabilitation, intensive care, maternity care, medical/surgical care, mental health, nuclear medicine, nursing management/leadership, occupational health bariatrics, OB/GYN, ENT, general surgery, quality assurance/improvement, peri-operative care, radiology, staff development and wound care.

“There are so many unique and rewarding career pathways to fit your calling and interests,” said Lorraine Diggs, vice president of nursing at UPMC Chautauqua WCA. “We offer nurses the opportunity to grow and develop their professional careers in countless directions and a variety of settings. Integrated into the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center network, one of the country’s largest provider-led integrated health care delivery and finance systems and as a leading academic medical center, our vision is to create the best patient experience. We are thrilled to have the chance to advance twenty-six new nurses into the incredible and rewarding career of nursing.”