PICU nurse Erin Serrano recently joined our team on her first medical mission trip to Ukraine. Erin shares her unique story about why she began her career as a pediatric cardiac nurse and how volunteering with Novick Cardiac Alliance was a dream her entire life. My journey to pursue a career in the Pediatric Cardiac …
Brooke Tracy, a perfusion student from the US, recently joined our team on a trip to Kharkiv, Ukraine. She describes her experience as a student on her first medical mission trip. “There are no words to describe how amazing and influential my first mission trip with the Novick Cardiac Alliance was, but I can say …
Each year, the American Society of Extracorporeal Technology offers a scholarship to one Perfusion student to travel on a medical mission trip with an organization of their choice. This year’s winner is perfusion student Kim Morris and she will be traveling with Novick Cardiac Alliance to Ukraine early next year. Kim moved across the United …
By Natalie Constantin, PICU Nurse Volunteer, Melbourne Australia Volunteering had been on my mind for about a year before I heard about Novick Cardiac Alliance. Friends of mine were planning on going on a trip to Tehran with NCA, and I picked their brains about what they were expecting and what NCA’s priorities were. On …
Lacy Volunteered on our recent trip to Nizhny in Russia. I’ve always wanted to do some type of volunteer work and this organization really caught my attention because they strive to educate and support hospitals and staff about pediatric cardiac care around the world.” I’ve been a PICU/CICU nurse for seven years now and I …
Imagine working in a hospital where the sound of nearby gunfire is a daily occurrence. Where equipment and supplies are rationed and nothing is thrown in the bin ever. Where nurses have to make their own sterilising solution and alcohol hand-wash. Where nursing autonomy is greater than in most other healthcare settings – nurses have full …
By Christine Motschman Wanner Dedicated to my heart warriors Ellie and Kurtis! Why do I travel and volunteer in some of the most “undesirable” tourist destinations in the world on my vacation time? It is difficult to pinpoint the exact reason why I chose to take time from my busy life to “vacation” Tobruk, Libya, …
Novick Cardiac Alliance PICU Nurse and Educator, Roslyn Rivera, BSN, RN remembers her experience with heart surgery as a child. As a pediatric cardiac ICU nurse, I often find myself rocking crying babies just hours after their heart surgery, while I repeat the phrase “I know, I know…” in an attempt to calm them. I …
Brenda Kingsley is a mother who volunteers with Cardiac Alliance – here she shares her story with us. Mother’s Day is very special to me, I have been blessed with five children and each of them have changed my life greatly. In 2004, I was pregnant with my fourth child and had gone in for …
Dilya Cleveland was 11 years old when she first met Dr Novick and his team – 20 years later she has shared her story with us. Although my surgery was performed in September 21, 1995, my mind holds strong memories and that experience will never be forgotten. I was visiting my local cardiologist since I …
