In El Paso, the Melendez lineage embraces a shared devotion to nursing, a father and son bonded by a collective engagement with health care and service to their community. Sergio Melendez Sr. began his journey as a graduate of El Paso Community College (EPCC)'s Licensed Vocational Nurse to Registered Nurse Program in 1996. Now, his legacy continues as his son, Sergio Melendez Jr., is set to receive his Associate Degree of Nursing from EPCC, marking a significant milestone during the program's celebratory 50th Pinning Ceremony.
According to EPCC News, both Sergio Sr. and Jr. feel a sense of destiny towards nursing. Sergio Jr., despite initial flirtations with music, was drawn to the field, with his father's guidance lending a hand, but not dictating his choice. "I did guide him a little in the beginning," Sergio Sr. said, "But he chose to follow this path and I'm glad he did." Meanwhile, Sergio Jr. expressed, "I felt it was a calling of mine, not necessarily a passion."
The elder Melendez carries a wealth of experience as Division Vice President at DaVita, covering hospital services across multiple states. His expertise also informs his hiring preferences; he values the education EPCC nurses receive highly, asserting their exceptional preparation. "I've had firsthand experience in hiring nurses from EPCC," Sergio Sr. conveyed, "And if I had an equally qualified nurse, I would hire a EPCC nurse rather than one from somewhere else because I know their academic preparation and clinical preparation is further advanced, or least I feel EPCC nurses are better capable of caring for patients at the bedside," as per EPCC News.
For Sergio Jr., the heart of the EPCC Nursing program lies in its community. "The most rewarding experience for me in the EPCC Nursing program has been meeting amazing people with the same goals: to serve our community in the healthcare setting as nurses," he recounted, as obtained by EPCC News. He also holds his instructional experience in high regard, indicating his development amidst not just innovative facilities that replaced the less inspiring basement classrooms remembered by his father, but within a thriving ecosystem of mentors and peers who bolster his readiness to serve and care.
The ceremonial pinning for the future nurses, including Sergio Jr., is slated for Thursday, May 15, with the official commencement following on Friday, May 16, standardizing a new cadre of healthcare providers from UTEP's Don Haskins Center, ready to embark on empathetic careers in the footsteps of those like the Melendez family who preceded them.
