Men in Nursing: BMCC Alumni

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Men currently make up about 12% of the nursing profession in the United States, yet those who enter the field have found it to be very rewarding. Our BMCC alumni in this field have found that there are many specialties to choose from as well as management roles. Here are a few of them:

Antonio Leonardo Lacerda Rosa Silva

Year of graduation: 2022
Major: Nursing
Update: I am a Registered Nurse at Bellevue Hospital. Originally from Brazil, I’m the first generation of my family to ever graduate from college. I am currently working as a Cardiac ICU nurse for NYC Health and Hospitals. I am also pursuing my Bachelors of Science in Nursing at Hunter College with an expected graduation date of spring 2024.
Advice for men considering a career in nursing: The road is challenging but the end of it is absolutely beautiful. Don’t wait—just go for it. Make sure to create a support system with your cohort in Nursing school; it helped me enormously.

Kenneth Hunt

Year of graduation: 2019
Major: Nursing
Update: I am a Neonatal ICU Registered Nurse NYC Health + Hospitals. After BMCC, I earned a BSN at the CUNY School of Professional Studies. I have worked in Adult ICU through 3 waves of COVID at the 2nd highest hit hospital in the tri-state area. I then transferred to Bellevue Hospital where I currently work in a level 4 Neonatal ICU which is the Regional Perinatal Center, providing care for the sickest infants in the tri-state area. I also work in at Nu Med NY, a medspa in Long Island.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-hunt-bsn-rn-184708128/
Advice for men considering a career in nursing: If you are considering a profession in nursing, I would recommend volunteering in a local hospital and shadowing nurses. The possibilities in nursing are endless and the job security can allow you to find work anywhere you choose to live.

Sheldon Hoyte

Year of graduation: 2015
Major: Nursing
Update: I am Clinical Manager for Fresenius Medical Care North America. After BMCC, I completed a Bachelor of Science degree focused on Nursing at the University of Texas at Arlington.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheldon-hoyte/
Advice for men considering a career in nursing: In my experience thus far, I have noticed that nursing is dominated by women and I believe it is an under-explored career choice for men. I want to encourage more men to explore the exceptional opportunities that exist in nursing. It’s possible the low numbers of men in the field are because nursing has historically been viewed as a field for women. But I do know that nursing has evolved and has become a well-respected career regardless of gender. For me, nursing has opened up many doors and I am 100% satisfied and happy that I chose to become a nurse. My advice for men who are considering nursing as their career choice is simply “Jump right in”. If you want a career that demands respect, provides stability, endless opportunities and high earning potential, then nursing is definitely the way to go. What are you waiting for?

Todd Schultz

Year of graduation: 2011
Major: Nursing
Update: I am Associate Director of Health Care Standards at NYC Health + Hospitals: Bellevue. I have been at NYC Health + Hospital 11+ years—beginning as a Registered Nurse, then being promoted to Head Nurse, after that Assistant Director of Nursing, and recently to my current position of Associate Director of Health Care Standards. After BMCC, I graduated with honors from the BSN program at SUNY New Delhi and then an MSN degree as well. I served as President of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) Local Bargaining Unit for Bellevue Hospital between 2017 and 2022. Outside of work, my nursing credentials allowed me to volunteer in organizations such as the
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-s-45bb5925/
Advice for men considering a career in nursing: Go for it! Healthcare is a massive field with countless career options. BMCC says “Start here, go anywhere” and that couldn’t be more accurate, especially in nursing. Getting your nursing degree from BMCC will be your launch point to career success!

Jeffrey Jubilee

Year of graduation: 2010
Major: Nursing
Update: I am a Neuroscience Nurse Practitioner at NYU Langone Medical Center. After BMCC, I went to SUNY Delhi for a BSN, to Stony Brook for an MSN and then to Johns Hopkins for a Doctor of Nursing (DNP). I also earned a Certificate in Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Post Masters Credential at Pace University – College of Health Professions.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-j-a50503126/
Advice for men considering a career in nursing: Nursing is now a profession that transcends gender stereotypes. We have male nurses in various departments and roles, contributing to a diverse and inclusive patient experience and improving healthcare as a whole. The opportunities for career advancement are endless, with options like becoming a nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, educator, informatics specialist, or even pursuing a law degree. If you’re considering joining nursing, don’t hesitate – start your journey, and you’ll have the chance to go anywhere in the healthcare field.

Ehab Tawadrous

Year of graduation: 2009
Major: Nursing
Update: I am a Nurse Manager for a Primary Care Outpatient Clinic, working for Department of Veterans Affairs in San Antonio, Texas. After BMCC, I completed a BSN degree at Lehman College. I have been working for 10 years for the Department of Veterans Affairs, I started as Registered Nurse in the Mental Health Inpatient Unit in Fayetteville, North Carolina. I then moved to San Antonio as RN for the Primary Care Outpatient Clinic for about three years. After that I got promoted to be the Assistant Nurse Manager for the same clinic for four years, and 18 months ago I was promoted to Nurse Manager for the same clinic.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ehab-tawadrous-984a1041/
Advice for men considering a career in nursing: Caring is the essence of nursing, and if you care and love to make positive changes in a patient’s life, gender does not matter. Your gender does not define your ability to excel in nursing. Embrace your role as a male nurse, bring your unique perspective to the profession and contribute to improving the whole healthcare system.

Jake Bakas

Year of graduation: 2008
Major: Nursing
Update: I am a Diagnostic Molecular Oncology RN at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. After BMCC, I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at the CUNY School of Professional Studies as well as a Bachelor of Science in Biological and Physical Sciences at Fordham University.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-bakas-64a69127/

Matthew Ostroff

Year of graduation: 2007
Major: Nursing
Update: I am an Advanced Practice Nurse working as the Vascular Access Coordinator and Lead Clinician for the award-winning (2016 New Jersey Biz Healthcare Hero Award for Innovation, and the 2023 ANCC Magnet Award for Innovation) Vascular Access Program at St. Joseph’s Health, specializing in patient populations spanning from neonatal to adults. After BMCC, I continued on to Chamberlin College of Nursing for a BSN and then to Drexel University to attain Acute Care Nurse Practitioner/Adult and Geriatric and Acute Care/Vascular credentials. After earning, the “Outstanding Graduate Award” from Drexel University in the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Track, I advanced my scope of practice under Dr. Mark Connolly, Chairman of Surgery. I had the privilege of sharing his vision of a multi-disciplinary vascular access service, speaking throughout the US, Canada, Latin America, and Europe, with an emphasis on critical thinking with complex cases. I was the proud recipient of the 2020 Suzanne Herbst Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the art and science of vascular access. I continue to innovate what is possible outside of radiology, performing tunneled dialysis catheter placement at the bedside. My book, Ultrasound Guided Vascular Access: Practical Solutions to Bedside Clinical Challenges was published in 2022 by Springer.
Advice for men considering a career in nursing: Nursing is a profession that is in need of motivated and inspired individuals to not only provide care for patients, but to innovate and advance how that care is provided. Nursing offers an opportunity to learn, grow, collaborate with all specialties and to advance practice through empathy, compassion, critical thinking and hands-on technical skills. As a former New York City 911 Paramedic, I chose to start in the Emergency Department, and from there realized that I excelled in procedural nursing, as I experienced on the ambulance. Nursing is one of the most challenging and rewarding careers you will ever experience.

Marcin Dzialo

Year of graduation: 2007
Major: Nursing
Update: I am a Nurse Administrator at New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center. After BMCC, I went to Hunter College for a BSN and then an MS in Community/Public Health Nursing. Beginning my nursing career as an RN at Beth Israel Medical Center, I moved on to become a Nurse Manager at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. After that I became Assistant Director of Nursing at NYC Health + Hospitals and then Senior Director, Nursing Operations, Office of Patient Centered Care. I have also been an Adjunct Lecturer at Hunter College.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcindzialo/

Marty Viegas

Year of graduation: 2001
Major: Nursing
Update: I am the Associate Director of Medical Affairs at BD, a global medical technology company. After BMCC, I went to Thomas Edison State University for a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.), Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. I started my nursing career at the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of NY Presbyterian in the Pediatric ICU. I held nursing positions as Staff Nurse, Educator, Coordinator, Manager and then Director. My nursing experience includes general Pediatrics, Pediatric ICU, Pediatric ED and Trauma, Pediatric Oncology, Pediatric OR/Surgery and Special Procedures. I earned Nursing Certifications in Pediatric ED, Critical Care, Unfusion, Trauma and BLS Instructor. I began working for BD in 2014 as a Clinical Specialist, training nurses on the safe and effective use of BD products. I then became a Field Trainer, then Manager. I was promoted to Associate Director for Medical Affairs in 2020.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marty-viegas-bsn-rn-ccrn-cpen-crni-947a20a3/
Advice for men considering a career in nursing: Nursing is a wonderful field for men. There are so many opportunities for men in the field due to the disproportionate ratio of men vs women in the field. The great thing about nursing is that unlike most careers, having many positions is looked upon as an asset, not a liability. You can move into different roles to find the one that fits you best. There are so many roles not only within the traditional hospital-based system, but also in industry, teaching, legal and private practice. I have had so many great opportunities and have never regretted my decision to become a nurse.