Q&A: Medina Shares Passion for Nursing, Being a Lay Minister
Matt Medina
Matt Medina, MSN, RNC-OB/EFM, a nurse in the Center for Labor and Delivery, is also a lay minister. He officiated the wedding of Ashley and Zack Thompson on Oct. 10, just days after helping deliver their son, Jack, who unexpectedly arrived a month before Ashley’s due date. In this Q&A with BWH Heart & Science, Medina shares his passion for nursing and what it meant to him to participate in the family’s most cherished moments.
What inspired you to become a nurse and, specifically, a labor and delivery nurse?
MM: I have been surrounded by phenomenal nurses my entire life. My mom, aunts and many friends are all nurses and work across multiple specialties. I had a few roadblocks and detours on my journey to nursing, but those individuals were my inspiration. As far as my chosen specialty of labor and delivery, I always knew that I wanted to deliver babies. Briefly, I thought my route to delivering babies would start with medical school, but I quickly came to the realization that nursing was the level of care and interaction that aligned best with my goals.
How did you become a lay minister and how many weddings have
you officiated?
MM: I became a lay minister in 2009 when a close friend asked me to officiate his wedding at a bookstore in Miami. I’ve had the pleasure of officiating more weddings since then for other friends and acquaintances, and I even performed the vow renewal ceremony for my grandparents’ 50th anniversary. The Thompson wedding marked the 19th – and first hospital wedding – that I’ve officiated.
What drew you to pursue an advanced degree in nurse midwifery?
MM: Ever since nursing school, I knew that midwifery would be in my career plan. Eventually, I knew it was time to start my midwifery training, and I picked a program that suits me well at Baystate Medical Center. I’m halfway through my first semester, and I’ll be done in May 2019.
What do you enjoy most about being a Brigham nurse?
MM: I most enjoy the support and resources that we can offer our patients in addition to the support we offer each other every day. Recently, one of my patients needed an emergency C-section, and I held her hand as my dedicated and expert clinician colleagues moved around the Operating Room, leaving no task or concern unaddressed. I was in awe. In my experience, that level of support for the role that each member of the interprofessional care team plays is not easy to come by in other institutions.