Faculty Friday: Lisa Palumbo

This week's Faculty Friday feature highlights Lisa Palumbo, MSN, RN, a nursing faculty at SUNY Corning Community College, and an experienced ER nurse who has also worked as a trauma nurse before switching to teaching. 

In addition to her career in healthcare, Lisa is also an animal activist who fosters dogs and believes in animal therapy. She believes connecting with animals can help people heal from emotional pain and build resilience in life's challenges. Her experience as a trauma nurse and an instructor has helped her develop empathy for patients and students. 

Through her interview, we learn about her passion for animals and how she is working towards making CCC a more inclusive place for those struggling with mental health issues.

Q: What inspired you to become a professor?
A: Actually, I only knew I wanted to be a professor last year. I graduated from nursing school as a second career in my 40s. When finishing my master's degree, I contacted one of my old clinical instructors and asked if she would be my preceptor. My capstone project was focused on how high-fidelity simulation increased the critical thinking skills of nursing students. I met the faculty here at CCC, which were all new since I graduated in 2016, and I instantly connected with them. I was given the opportunity to teach students in the SIM lab and fell in love with making a difference in these students' learning journeys. I accepted a part-time position working in the SIM lab after that. I wasn't ready to leave my full-time job working in the ER, so this was a good way to have the best of both worlds. I was asked to teach four lectures to help the department and reluctantly agreed. I had never taught in a large lecture hall and was a bit apprehensive. It turned out that I loved the transfer of knowledge, and the students loved my ER stories (LOL). The students were highly receptive to my teaching style, and many of them asked, "Where have you been this entire year, and why haven't you been teaching." This experience opened my eyes to this career path, and I accepted a full-time faculty position in August 2022. I have shifted my focus to teaching, which has been the most rewarding experience. I am still working as an ER nurse but on a per diem basis. 

Q: What classes do you teach at SUNY CCC?
A: I teach sophomore-level nursing classes, which consist of Advanced medical surgical nursing, Population Health, Transitions to practice, Simulation for advanced nursing, skills lab.

Q: What did you recently obtain your degree in?
A: I obtained my master of nursing degree in 2021 with a focus on education.

Q: What have been some of the biggest successes you've had in your profession?
A: If you are asking me about the nursing profession, my biggest successes are becoming a trauma nurse and saving lives. If you are asking me about teaching, my biggest success is having students hug me and tell me that they are so grateful that I supported and believed in them when no one else did. Having all 53 students pass and get pinned is something that has not happened in a long time in the history of the nursing department, and it became a reality this year. I am not one of those nurses that eat their young. I thrive on lifting my students, supporting them, and providing them with a safe space to learn and grow.

Q: Is there something about you that most people don't know, such as a unique talent or hobby?
A: Many people probably don't know I am a huge animal activist. I was involved in fostering abused dogs before COVID. These animals were taken from horrible situations and placed in my care to help rehabilitate them and find good homes. I have not fostered since COVID because I now have an elderly dog that needs all my attention. I genuinely believe in animal therapy and would love to bring that to CCC as an option for students coping with depression, an xiety, or other hardships.