ECMO Specialist Week
Celebrating ECMO Specialists around the world for the excellent care given to patients during extracorporeal life support.
Megan - recognized by Rachel Wallace, UMMC, USA
I would like to highlight Megan, our ECMO Specialist! Megan is known for her hardworking nature and dedication to the job. From day one, she has shown exceptional commitment to providing the highest standard of care for our patients. Her passion for learning and her ability to adapt quickly make her a valuable addition to our team. Megan’s dedication and work ethic are truly commendable, and we are excited to see the positive impact she will continue to make in our ECMO program. As to why Megan wanted to be an ECMO Specialist she says “After taking care of ECMO patient as a bedside nurse for 3 years and doing ECMO flight transports for 2 years I decided it was time for a change. Having worked very closely with ECMO specialist as the bedside nurse I found their job intriguing in the sense that they were able to work and collaborate with multiple different disciplinary teams throughout the hospital including perfusion, cath lab, OR staff, and bedside nursing staff. I needed something that would challenge me and push me out of my comfort zone but that was also sustainable with a family and ECMO specialist seemed to be the perfect fit and this far it has proven to be just that.”
Dr. Gary Schwartz, MD
Chief, Department of Thoracic Surgery
Surgical Director, Lung Transplantation
Director, Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Baylor University Medical Center
Valeria Gongora Tello - recognized by Oscar Reyes, Mexico
For being the first ECMO specialist at our institution along with her tireless commitment and kindness with all our patients.
Mohammed Shamsah - recognized by Mahmoud Jaber, Kuwait
Very thoughtful, dedicated and brilliant in troubleshooting. He is vigilant to save lives, enthusiastic to teach and share knowledge.
Kevin Rixmann BSN, RN, NRP, CCRN-CSC, CFRN
Clinical Supervisor, Minnesota Mobile Resuscitation Consortium
Anthony - recognized by Stefania Medero, USA
Anthony always goes above and beyond for his patients, the care and dedication he puts into everything is beyond impressive. He has helped me being a new ECMO specialist in ways I could never thank him enough for! Definitely a person you can always count on.
Drisya Paul CCP, CES-A, ELSO E-AEC
Adult and Pediatric ECMO Program Coordinator
Sheikh Khalifa Hospital, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Stefanie and Scott - ECMO Survivors
Watch their full story here.
Isabel Santos Case - recognized by Jillmarie Macaluso, USA
Isabel is an RRT that has been the biggest supporter and advocate for the ECMO program at TRINITY HEALTH of New England Saint Francis Hospital since its inception. She has selflessly devoted hours of her time and clinical skills to ensure that the program was a success. Recently she became the very first nationally certified ECMO specialist at St Francis and she was an advocate for her RT colleagues to join the program as well. With Isabel support 2 more RRTs have become nationally certified at St Francis. We are so proud of her, the entire ECMO program and especially for our most recent earning of the SILVER recognition from ELSO. Thank you Isabel!
David Hebert RRT, NPS, CES-P
ECMO Coordinator OLOL Regional Medical Center
Louisiana, USA
Crystal - recognized by Rachel Wallace, UMMC, USA
Crystal has quickly become an invaluable member of our ECMO team. Since joining our staff full-time this year, she has demonstrated exceptional reliability and has become a go-to resource for information among her colleagues. Crystal has been involved with ECMO since 2016 and finds the work both challenging and rewarding, particularly because it involves caring for the most critical patients. Her willingness to help wherever needed and her depth of knowledge have made her an essential asset to our team. Outside of work, she loves to travel with her family and prioritizes her health and wellness. Thank you Crystal and Happy ECMO Specialist Week!
Maurice Smith - recognized by Kaylee Quick
Maurice's unwavering dedication to patient care is truly commendable. He embodies all the qualities that make an exceptional ECMO Specialist, always going above and beyond to ensure that each patient receives the highest standard of care. His ability to anticipate patient needs and respond during critical events makes him an ideal preceptor/role model for our ECMO Team.
Maurice takes on the most challenging work hours at our community hospital as a night shifter. Working in a hybrid role as a respiratory therapist/ECMO specialist, he is passionate about sharing his clinical expertise to help educate other ECMO team members with nursing backgrounds. Everyone benefits from his knowledge!
One amusing personal fact about Maurice is that he is famously known for smelling good. Seriously, he dons himself in the best-smelling/least offensive cologne. Anyone new to our institution and unfamiliar with names only needs to be told "Good-smelling ECMO Specialist," and they will know exactly who is sitting pump.
Maurice is the definition of a team player. He always puts the team's needs above his own, offering assistance whenever and wherever needed. His collaborative spirit and willingness to lend a hand, no matter the task, create a supportive and cohesive work environment. As our team's ECMO Coordinator, I wholeheartedly believe Maurice deserves to be celebrated this ECMO Specialist Week!
Deb Hernandez - recognized by Ali, Alden, Annette & Libby
California, USA
Can you share a little bit about yourself?
I have been the ECMO Coordinator for 8 ½ years ( I became a Specialist at the same time that I learned to be a Coordinator which was fun). Prior to that I was a Charge Nurse in the PICU on nights for 28 years. I am the EKG and HEARTS instructor as well as teaching a lot of ICU related content in house and at other facilities. I LOVE to teach and tell stories that teach others but also make them laugh. Its hard, what we do, so sometimes I have to use our "off color" ICU sense of humor to make things a bit brighter when you're in the storm; or not, we could all use a laugh. But most of all I LOVE nursing and I feel ECMO has only added to my love for what we do. The feeling of handing back someone's child to them after a super rough illness is like no other, I feel blessed to do what I do every day. I am married to the BEST ECMO hubby Ray and have 2 kids Alex who is 23 and studying to be a beautician and Parker 19 who is in college and says he will pay for my retirement... LOL I also have a German Shepard named BO and a kitty named Gray.
How long have you been an ECMO Specialist?
8 ½ years of craziness in the ECMO world. WOW how much I have learned, cried, laughed and hugged... such a wild ride.
What inspired you to get into the ECMO world?
Well, I guess to get out of the comfort zone of running a very busy ICU. We were starting an ECMO program to be managed with RN's and RCP's and I had a lot of leadership and education experience; I thought it would be a perfect challenge for me. UGH... was I wrong. It's been an amazing ride but SO hard. We are a Platinum designated ECMO center and I am very proud of this, but it was a HUGE amount of hard work and night and day dedication that I did not anticipate; well worth it as our team is incredible. I am proud and tired.
What has been one of your biggest challenges while caring for the ECMO patient population?I tell my friends and family that with ECMO there isn't a lot of room for anything. There's the ECMO pump, The pearly gates, and GOD and that's it. I have a healthy belief system and after 37 years in Pediatric medicine I know you can't save them all; sometimes GOD wins, and that's just what it is. Sounds hard but it's real, unfortunately. I think ECMO can make this process even more challenging but sometimes it gives the family some time to come to some realization of what is to come. I am a realist I suppose, and believe it is my God given duty to help this process if a patient is to live or die. I never want to be challenged with what these families go through; it's horrific and heartbreaking. This is my challenge but also the thing that makes me good at what I do. I teach my team by example how to love hard, hug often and give with your heart. It's what we do!!
What has been one of your most rewarding experiences caring for ECMO patients?The babies we save every day. I LOVE them all. WE have an ECMO Picnic every year and I get to see our babies we save, and watch them get bigger and stronger and I think I am so blessed to do what I do; I save babies!!!!
What words of wisdom and encouragement can you give to the globel ECMO community?Take care of YOU so you can take care of THEM. I have been fighting breast cancer for the past 2 years and I can't say I have always been kind to myself. I think our newer generations are better at that than we were in the past. You can't give what you don't have and I have seen so many of us burn out and lose their way. Stay strong and most of all be a TEAM. I am so proud of the team that we have here at VCH; they love each other even when it's hard to.
Happy ECMO Specialist week!
What has been one of your most rewarding experiences caring for ECMO patients?The babies we save every day. I LOVE them all. WE have an ECMO Picnic every year and I get to see our babies we save, and watch them get bigger and stronger and I think I am so blessed to do what I do; I save babies!!!!
Ali’s THANKS
In 2015 Debbie took on the task of becoming ECMO Coordinator of our PICU at Valley Childrens Hospital. The program was brand new, Debbie along with a team of 25 RN and RCP's started the education process from the ground up. Debbie learned every detail about ECMO down to the connectors and manifolds to give us a strong foundation to care for the critically ill patients in our PICU. Fast forward to 2022, under Debbie and our Medical Director's guidance, our ECMO team was awarded the ELSO Platinum Center Award.
If it were not for Debbie and her continued education, love of didactic and simulation we would not be as successful of a team as we have become.
Alden’s THANKS
Deb has helped build our ECMO program from scratch. She has gone above and beyond to make sure all the team members have the knowledge and competencies needed to safely sit pump. We couldn’t ask for a better leader, mentor, and teammate. Even while going through some her own health issues, we always knew we could depend on her for support.
Annette’s THANKS
Deb Hernandez has been an amazing leader in our Ecmo program at Valley Children’s Hospital. She has helped build our Ecmo program for the last 8 years as also being the Ecmo coordinator. She is dedicated and committed to our core values and has helped us achieve our Platinum level for center of excellence. The countless hours that she has dedicated to our education/sim labs and always being there for our Ecmo team.
Libby’s THANKS
Without any prior ECMO experience, Deb built our hospital’s program from the ground up. She’d had decades of experience as a pediatric cardiac ICU nurse, as well as serving as an educator and mentor for hundreds of staff members. Deb is a true leader and under her leadership, our program went from a startup to earning a Platinum designation in just 5 years. Her dedication, kindness, and brilliance are unmatched. And did I mention she did all of this while battling breast cancer?
Challenges exist within the ECMO community regarding available and compatible disposable equipment among some widely used platforms. The safe transport of ECMO patients with different circuit components has proven difficult amidst product shortages.
The use of Abbott’s first or second generation transport system with Medtronic equipment, and other related disposables for ECMO transport is now possible. Safely mounting an oxygenator to a transport system that has versatility to fit your program needs can be achieved and is available for purchase, taking the limits off of your team to facilitate excellent patient care.
Complete the interest form below to receive more information.