Let’s talk, heart to heart
Every nurse at Penn State Health brings a personal story as unique and inspiring as the patients they serve during some of life’s most stressful circumstances.
Meet our RN ambassadors
Our RN ambassadors embody the diversity, talent and enthusiasm of Penn State Health’s Department of Nursing – and they want to share their passion with you! Their career journeys range from new graduates to seasoned professionals with 20-plus years of experience, each with a unique perspective on the stepping stones that have built expertise, challenged personal growth and fulfilled a calling to help others.
Who are our RN ambassadors?
Our RN ambassadors are available to answer questions and share their experiences about working at Penn State Health with high school, college and nursing students and at community events. Read their profiles and reach out through email or follow them on LinkedIn. Our ambassadors look forward to meeting you!
Ariane Stranges - Registered Nurse
Ariane Stranges may be a newer registered nurse to the Holy Spirit Nursing Resource team, but she has a long history with Penn State Health. She graduated from Harrisburg Area Community College's Lancaster Campus and worked at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center during nursing school. She is thrilled to return to the Penn State family.
Christina Webster - Acute Care nurse
A graduate of Messiah College in Mechanicsburg, Pa., Christina has been with Penn State Health for 24 years as both a floor nurse and nurse leader.
Daniel Schaeffer, Flight Nurse, Life Lion Critical Care
As a flight nurse for Penn State Health, Dan’s “office” is 2,000 feet in the air inside one of the health system’s iconic Life Lion helicopters. It’s been his home away from home for nearly 12 years.
Jen Smith - Acute Care nurse
Jen Smith has chosen to stay at Penn State Health for 16 years and counting because she feels like she’s part of a family she wouldn’t dream of leaving.
Jennifer Zimmerman - Vice President, Nursing, Adult Acute Care
An 18-year nursing veteran of Penn State Health, Jennifer Zimmerman speaks with firsthand knowledge when she says our health system invests in its people.
Jessica Ryder - Assistant Nurse Manager
Jessica Ryder has been a part of Holy Spirit Medical Center’s nursing team for 16 years, starting her career in 2008 as a monitor tech and patient care assistant CA while attending nursing school at Messiah University. She’s worked in various roles within the heart center and is now the unit’s assistant nurse manager.
Kelsey Guth - Penn State Cancer Institute nurse
Kelsey Guth always wanted to work at a large hospital with a solid reputation, but she also hoped for a close-knit staff who had each other’s back. At Penn State Health, she says she got all that and more.
Krista Wright - Assistant Nurse Manager
Krista Wright, the Assistant Nurse Manager of the Medical Surgical Unit at Hampden Medical Center, has been with Penn State Health for two years. After starting her career in construction management, Krista made the shift to nursing and hasn’t looked back. While the transition to health care was challenging initially, it’s been incredibly rewarding, and she’s found her true passion in caring for patients and leading a dedicated team.
Mallory Marconi - Registered nurse
Known for her eclectic scrub cap collection, Mallory says the perioperative orientation training program at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is unparalleled to any nurse orientation program at other institutions.
Megan Paulhamus - Registered Nurse
Megan Paulhamus is a registered nurse in the Adult Intensive Care Unit (AICU) and a coach resource nurse at Holy Spirit Medical Center. She initially worked as an agency nurse and decided to become full-time with Penn State Health because of the great people and the strong teamwork.
Michelle Almeida - Registered Nurse
Michelle Almeida is a veteran nurse with more than 23 years of experience. She currently works as a Peri-Anesthesia RN at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. A graduate of Frankford Hospital School of Nursing, Michelle chose to work at Penn State Health for its outstanding reputation and commitment to quality care.
Nancy Himmelberger - Registered Nurse
Nancy Himmelberger has been a registered nurse in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital for 18 years. Throughout her career she’s been a charge nurse, preceptor and resource nurse. A graduate of both Reading Hospital School of Nursing and Penn State Harrisburg, Nancy chose Penn State Health for the opportunity to grow in a dynamic and evolving hospital setting.
Sydnee Loy - Registered Nurse
Sydnee Loy has been a Pediatric ICU nurse at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital since 2022. A graduate of West Virginia University, Sydnee fulfilled her lifelong dream of working in a pediatric ICU at a hospital known for supporting its nurses.
Tara Gardner - Director of Nursing
When Tara Gardner joined Holy Spirit Medical Center 16 years ago, she quickly became an essential part of the team. Now, as the Director of Nursing, her dedication and passion for nurses are evident every day.
Join our team!
Nurses act as caregiver, advisor, confidante, educator and advocate for patients and their families – often all at once – contributing to the important mission of Penn State Health in many settings.
To learn more about career opportunities with Penn State Health and to connect with a recruiter, email [email protected].