Alumnus, Nate Aranas, works at one of the most well-known hospitals in America, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Also known as the President's Hospital, Walter Reed provides care for members of the military and their families, the president, vice president, members of Congress and Supreme Court justices. 

Aranas is a proud Gamecock and shared his COVID journey with us!

Current role: Service Chief, Emergency Dept, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Why did you choose to receive the COVID vaccine? I wholeheartedly chose to be vaccinated because I wanted to not only protect my staff and family, but show the world that no pandemic will overcome science and the human spirit.

How has COVID impacted your role & hospital? Covid has built a resiliency in myself and my staff that is unmatched. Walter Reed has so many unique missions being the epicenter of military medicine in addition to serving our beneficiaries, veterans/retirees, the White House, Capitol Hill, foreign dignitaries and so forth. Having attained such high visibility to the nation, means several other Military Treatment Facilities and local hospitals sought our guidance and looked for best practices done by our hospital.

Being service line leader (head nurse) in the ED truly gave me a strong voice within my facility (my command) to express what my staff required to provide top-notch patient care as well as discovering that several departments could support the ED in avenues not previously explored. 

How do you stay positive through difficult times during the pandemic? I stay positive by taking time to myself at home with my dog, Nugget. Trust me, he's a good listener and huge Carolina fan, too!