Ramapo Nursing Alumna Megan Chan Named NJBIZ “Nurse of the Year”

by Angela Daidone  |  Winter 2022

Megan Chan graduated from Ramapo College in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The Somerset, N.J., native works as a registered nurse for the New Brunswick-based Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, which provides services in 27 centers and facilities throughout the state.

Last summer, Chan was named “Nurse of the Year” by NJBIZ when it announced its 2021 Healthcare Heroes Awards. Kathleen Burke, Assistant Dean of Nursing at Ramapo, said, “Megan’s work ethic and dedication was evident when she was a student and has definitely made an impact in her professional career. She richly deserves this recognition and Ramapo is proud of her.”

Chan said she was humbled to receive the prestigious award, which recognizes “those who have had significant impacts on the health care industry and landscape in New Jersey.”

“I’m thankful and I appreciate the person who took the time to nominate me and the independent panel of judges who took the time to review submissions. I’m grateful for everyone I’ve ever learned from.”

Chan has worked six years as a Registered Nurse for three departments within Saint Peter’s Healthcare System. During the day, she works for DSRIP and Community Health Services, and during the night, she is on the Metabolic Unit. During the pandemic crisis, she served in multiple roles as did most of her fellow healthcare workers across the country. She worked directly with COVID-19 patients on Medical Surgical Units and Critical Care Units, at a COVID-19 testing site, and did infection prevention rounding at the hospital. She also was a team leader in building the hospital’s COVID-19 Recovery Program, which has resulted in 500+ enrolled program participants, as well as team leader for COVID-19 vaccination clinics both in the hospital and out in the community, which has resulted in 30,000+ vaccinations.

An active student at Ramapo, she served as an Academic Peer Coach through the Office of Specialized Services, was a member of the Diversity Action Committee, Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Committee, and was an inductee into Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society and Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society.

“My appreciation is shared for all of the RCNJ Nursing Program staff,” said Chan. “Each professor is dedicated to helping students become the best they can be. Ramapo has an intensive and immersive Nursing Program, which gave me a strong foundation to build upon.” She recalled studying in the library from the time it opened until it closed and then going to her dorm to study until she fell asleep. “I even laminated notes and would study in the shower,” said Chan, who added that she chose the nursing profession because of all the meaningful ways she could get to be of service to others. “I get to care for people on their worst and best days. I get to make healthcare accessible, particularly for underserved populations. I get to help people navigate barriers to accessing care, which include but are not limited to poverty, being unhoused, lack of transportation, low literacy levels, language, etc.”