Health Care Management & Policy Major Enjoys GERMS Participation, Thrives at Georgetown

February 20, 2020 – Joseph Maccarone (NHS’21) is a junior health care management & policy major at the School of Nursing & Health Studies. He enjoys his studies, the relationships he has built on campus, and volunteering as an emergency medical technician with the Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service (GERMS).

Question: Where did you grow up, and how did you learn about Georgetown?

Maccarone: I grew up in New Jersey. My mom went to Georgetown, so my childhood is filled with memories of car trips here to explore. However, it was at a Georgetown Admissions Ambassador Program (GAAP) weekend, as a high school student, where I truly fell in love with Georgetown and knew that it was the perfect school for me.

Question: How are you enjoying the health care management & policy major?

Maccarone: The major drew me to Georgetown, as I was passionate about cultivating an appreciation of health care beyond the provider. It has allowed me to do just that, through intimate classes that foster open discussions on our potential to shape the future of care delivery. The NHS has been a vital community in my life since day one, lending support beyond the classroom to succeed amidst challenges and opportunities.  

Professors go the extra mile to aid students – lending support in office hours, writing recommendations, and opening their doors to advice or a casual conversation. I know in my heart the connections I build here on campus and in the NHS will endure for a lifetime.

Question: Tell us about your work with GERMS, as well as your recent commendation.

Maccarone: I have been a volunteer EMT with GERMS since the spring of my freshman year. Currently, I am an acting crew chief serving as the historian and director of behavioral health in the Diversity and Inclusion Team. Alongside fellow team members, our objectives this year have centered around promoting mental wellness in collegiate EMTs while likewise examining best practices for behavioral health in the prehospital setting. 

On February 18, it was my honor to receive a Cardiac Arrest Save Coin by DC Fire and EMS, alongside members of the Georgetown athletic staff, DC FEMS personnel, and fellow GERMS EMTs Jack Ryan (C’20), Nicole Chen (NHS’20), and Zach Culbertson (F’21) for prehospital care to an individual on campus in cardiac arrest this past fall. It was a privilege to be a part of this ceremony and shake the hand of the individual only mere months after the call, which is a memory I will hold on to for the rest of my life. Ultimately, it illustrates through the quick action of the Georgetown athletic staff just how impactful early CPR and defibrillation prior to EMS arrival can be in lifesaving care.

Question: What other activities are you involved in, and how do you enjoy those?

Maccarone: I am an events coordinator on the board of Active Minds here at Georgetown. Active Minds has allowed me to further pursue my passion of mental health in breaking down existing stigma while fostering an open and honest dialogue within our student body. I have been grateful to follow other lifelong dreams in my time here as well, from being a senior staff member in a GUSA campaign to dancing onstage in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” this fall.  

Question: What stands out about your time at Georgetown so far?

Maccarone: What has stood out to me over the last few years at Georgetown is the capacity of students from diverse backgrounds and experiences to come together as Hoyas here on the Hilltop. Georgetown is an environment for us as students to explore our true selves and the possibilities for a lifetime of growth. At first, as I settled into my Village C West dorm room freshman year, I felt similar to a kindergartener trying to make friends. Nevertheless, as I discovered my home here, I realized in my heart that I had actually gained something far more extraordinary – a family of Hoyas rallying behind me every step of the way.

Question: What are you thinking about for the future?

Maccarone: I look forward to the newfound experiences and opportunities to challenge myself this semester and throughout my upcoming senior year on the Hilltop. Following graduation, my dream is to pursue a master’s degree in public health or physiology before ultimately applying to medical school.