Denise Maldonado

A recent graduate of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University, New Brunswick. I have obtained a Bachelor of Science in Health Administration degree. My goals are to work as an Administrator at a psychiatric facility and potentially receive a degree in psychology.My first experience in a medical setting was when I worked as both a food service worker and a nutrition clerk at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) in New Brunswick. I provided nutritional meals for patients with certain dietary restrictions and ensured meals complied with their diet as well as health regulations. Patient communication was one of the main priorities during my time at RWJUH.Also, I was an intern at the Tobacco Quit Center in John Theuer Cancer Center, part of Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) where I scheduled patients for smoking cessation therapy in efforts of reducing cancer disparities. The program worked to assist HMH patients fulfill their tobacco quit attempt. I was responsible for inputing data entry and organizing patient information for the purpose of developing cohorts based on the progression of the newly developed Community Smoking Center Treatment Center (CSCTC) initiative.Many patients come into the CSCTC program with low confidence in being able to quit their tobacco usage. However, I enjoyed observing the Tobacco Treatment Specialists (TTS) use therapy to make patients' feel capable of quitting entirely. Watching patients make a turn around in their confidence pushed me to pursue more education in the psychological field. I plan to use my experience and knowledge to further my education and assist vulnerable populations.