Fizzy Business - Regis College

Kathleen Dooher
said. Nursing students—many of whom are already
working RNs studying to become licensed nurse
practitioners—provide wellness care such as basic
first aid, immunizations, blood pressure and blood
sugar screenings, assessment of common health
problems such as colds or flu, and assistance with
scheduling health care appointments and finding
primary care providers. Regis nursing faculty Pat
Ciarleglio and Joanne Hyde have also volunteered
during the summer months.
Many of the women guests seeking care speak
little English. Some struggle with mental illness,
while others are uncomfortable talking with doctors.
“We help them navigate the system,” Smalarz
said. For example, if a woman comes in with very
high blood pressure, a nurse will work with her to
figure out why. Is the woman not taking her medication
because it’s making her sick? Can she not afford
the prescription?
Rosie’s Place relies solely on private donations
and does not accept medical insurance or funding
from the government or the United Way. “We’re not
bound by red tape,” said Smalarz. “So we can sit
down for an hour with a woman and talk about her
diet and her prescriptions and help her to sort it all
out. We can help her articulate questions she should
ask her doctor.”
With Smalarz leading the way, the wellness center
has expanded to include the services of volunteers
from Boston University School of Dental Medicine,
and Sargent College, and of doctors from the nonprofit
organization Women of Means. “We have this
interdisciplinary academic model with nursing students
and med students working together,” she said.
On a spectacular Friday in August, Luz Rey, 38, a
student in Regis’s nurse practitioner program, was
beginning her first day and had already completed
an appointment with a woman from Guatemala who
spoke only Spanish. Rey, a native of Colombia, was
able to communicate and connect with her. “So i’ve
already been able to make a difference,” she said.
Bart Nelson, 26, also a nurse practitioner student,
volunteered at Rosie’s Place last summer while
studying for his RN degree and was just beginning
another stint. He said he enjoys serving the community
of needy women, but admitted, “it can be
difficult to relate to them at times because their
backgrounds are so different from mine. i try to put
myself in their shoes.”
Smalarz said she has learned “there’s a very fine
line between us and them.” Especially with the ailing
economy, she said, “we have a number of what
you’d call ‘formerly middle-class women’ who have
left a family situation for a number of reasons, be it
mental illness, substance abuse, or an abusive relationship.”
She added, “i’ve always had a soft spot for
the underdog.”
Carter-Bruno still marvels at the energy and compassion
Smalarz brings to her work as a volunteer.
“You can find Mary at any moment doing just about
anything a woman needs. I often walk in to find her
at a woman’s feet doing foot care,” she said. “i’m
so impressed and inspired by her dedication. it’s a
wonderful example for her students.”
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