Celebrating Black History Month 2023: Beverly Trujillo and Melody Jackson
During Black History Month, we pay tribute to our Black community by celebrating the many contributions they have made to Jackson and South Florida. The Spotlight will feature reflections from our employees on the importance of their histories, and what the observance means to them. Beverly Trujillo, a nurse anesthetist at Jackson West Medical Center, has been a practicing nurse since 2003. Her journey with Jackson started in 2021 with the grand opening of Jackson West.
Q: Who do you look up to within the Jackson Health System community?
A: It’s hard to pinpoint one person. Jackson is so diverse, and I just love that the people here are so knowledgeable and have a great sense of pride about the work they do. In most jobs, people tend to be disconnected to the overall organization, but people here are very invested, which shows how great this organization is. I look up to Deandra Rollins from our operating room a lot.
Q: Who has impacted your journey with Jackson Health System?
A: Our CEO, Eddie Borrego. He is very much involved in our day-to-day life here. I don’t think I’ve ever worked at a facility where the CEO knows your name, your kids, and knows a little bit about your life when they’re talking to you.
Q: What legacy do you hope to leave for future Black nurses who hope to follow your example?
A: Seeing other Black nurses and higher-ups who are Black making an impact at Jackson shows younger generations that it doesn’t matter what color you are, you can achieve anything. There is something to be said about actually seeing yourself in the position of your dreams. It’s really powerful for a young Black nurse to see someone who looks like her and has similar a background holding the position of power that she dreams of… In 2023, seeing a Black nurse anesthetist is more common, but when I was in school, it was rare. Now that more of us are in the field, it shows younger generations that anything is attainable.
Q: Describe your experience with Jackson Health System in three words:
A: Thought-provoking, impactful, and exciting.
Q: What would you like people to know about your experience as a Black nurse anesthetist within Jackson Health System?
A: In my entire cohort in Texas where I went to nursing school, there was only one other Black nurse anesthetist. When I came to Jackson, the diversity just hit me. My nurse manager when I first got here was Black and there were so many minorities in positions of power. It made me feel so happy and good to see people that look like me changing people’s lives, providing excellent care, and attaining their goals.
Melody Jackson, a clinical staff nurse in the NICU at Holtz Children’s Hospital, has been a part of the Jackson team for 36 years, working in several patient areas on the Jackson Memorial Medical Center campus.
Q: What legacy do you hope to leave for future Black nurses who hope to follow your example?
A: I hope my career encourages them always put God first, to never give up, keep going to school, and keep learning. There is so much knowledge to obtain and you can never get tired of learning.
Q: Describe your experience with Jackson Health System in three words:
A: Incredible, evolving, and unique.
Q: Who has impacted your journey here at Jackson Memorial?
A: I look up to Olive Fowler, Holtz Children’s NICU nurse manager.
Q: What do you love about your job?
A: I love caring for people, especially the babies. They’re so innocent. I love that we can be there for them when their parents can’t be. The best part is when parents get to take them home and they thank us for all our work. Working in the NICU is very rewarding, and the team is so awesome, which is why I’ve stayed there for so long.
Q: What would you like people to know about your experience as a Black nurse at Jackson?
A: I like working at Jackson because we’re so diverse and multicultural. You will see nurses who are Haitian, Jamaican, Chinese, Filipino, and more in the NICU. We get to experience so many different cultures when we are on break together, eating together, and caring for our patients together.