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6 Among Graduates of Hospital's Nurse Apprentice Program

White Plains Hospital started the program because of the national nursing shortage.

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Lanning Taliaferro, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge

White Plains Hospital will celebrate six local residents Aug. 9 for their successful completion of its nursing apprenticeship.

The Richard P. Biondi Nurse Apprentice Program is a 7-week intensive giving participants experience in clinical areas in the Hospital including pediatrics, Emergency Department, endoscopy, post-anesthesia care unit, ICU step-down, labor and delivery, maternal-child, medical-surgical, oncology and neonatal intensive care.

There were 22 nursing students in  this summer, including: 

  • Bianca Acuna, White Plains, Pace University

  • Leah Briody, White Plains, SUNY Plattsburgh

  • Michelle Campos, White Plains, Adelphi University

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  • Jessica Gonzalez, White Plains, College of Mt. St. Vincent’s

  • Marisa Rosario, White Plains, College of Mt. St. Vincent’s

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  • Mark Sorian, White Plains, Pace University


    • The program is eight years old—and the hospital has hired 61 of its graduates.

    “Since these students are already in our pipeline, they are the first individuals we look to hire,” said Program Counselor Annie Norris. “The nurse managers and staff get to know their work ethic, ambition and initiatives, as well as their organizational and priority setting skills during the summer.”

    Named after the late Richard P. Biondi, who was a Senior Vice President of White Plains Hospital and was instrumental in leading fundraising initiatives on its behalf, the nurse apprentice program has been coordinated by Norris and Monica Purdy, Nursing Liason for Students, both registered nurses.

    They direct the community outreach program at local schools and screen, select, evaluate and oversee the apprentices. The program was initially made possible by a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, as well as funding from White Plains Hospital.  

    The program's other graduates will include: 

    • Luiza Andrade, West Harrison, PACE University

    • Karina Barreto, Port Chester, PACE University

    • Stacey Berroa, Mt. Vernon, Adelphi University

    • Lauren Boustrous, Yorktown Heights, Scranton University

  • Fanette Ceus, Elmsford, PACE University

  • Jennie Chieco, Bedford Corners, Fairfield University

  • Sarah DeLeno, Pelham, New York University

  • Amanda Ferraro, West Harrison, Sacred Heart University

  • Amanda Gariola, Sparkill, Penn State

  • Janeen Hawkins, Mt. Vernon, PACE University

  • Ashley Johnson, Orange, Connecticut, New York University

  • Kristine Martin, Hawthorne, St. Mary’s College

  • Claire O’Connell, Highland Mills, Quinnipiac University

  • Vera Peraj, Yonkers, PACE University

  • Laura Power, New Rochelle, Scranton University

  • Libin Samuel, Yonkers, Nyack College

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