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ACHE of South Florida Student Let’s Connect:

Services Chair Advocates Continuing ACHE of South Florida

Education, Real-life Experience Spotlight

BY VANESSA ORR “I stabilized him until we landed and the paramedics
took over,” said Pantoja-Smith, who later found out that
Mari Pantoja-Smith, MSN, RN, defines herself as a “nursy nurse” - someone who has both of his parents were doctors at the University of
a passion for taking care of others, and who believes that nursing is more of a calling Miami. “Thank God I knew what I was doing; they were so
than a job. happy that I’d been able to use my experience to help.”
“Nursing is not something that you go into for the money,” explained the 22-year Though her more recent endeavors have had her work-
nursing veteran. “It’s not easy to go to nursing school or to take care of patients, but ing in the field of clinical informatics at Mednax for the
it’s what you do when you want to help people.” past 5-1/2 years, she still appreciates all that nursing has
Pantoja-Smith originally planned to be a doctor, but followed the path to nursing provided her.
instead. “It’s been a wonderful career, and I’ve tried to convince
“Life decides what’s in store for you,” she laughed. “I got pregnant at 18, and my my three children to go into healthcare, but the two boys
then-boyfriend (now husband) and I couldn’t both go to school at the same time, so I didn’t listen,” added Pantoja-Smith, who was a ‘front-liner’
deferred the idea of medical school. But I’ve always been passionate about the medical until 2014. “I’m still hoping my daughter might!”
field, so I decided to go to nursing school, which I could still do as a young mother.” Pantoja-Smith first became aware of ACHE of South
It’s fortunate for her patients that she chose that route; her experience even helped Florida when she was invited to an educational session in Mari Pantoja-Smith
her during an emergency on a JetBlue flight, where as the only medical professional February of 2018. “After attending that one session, I
aboard, she was able to provide treatment to a 17-year-old boy who was diaphoretic wanted to know more,” she said. “I Googled the group and found out that a friend was
with a weak pulse. a member, and the more I learned, I realized that I didn’t just want to join, but wanted
to be hands-on.”
In 2019, Pantoja-Smith became the Student Services chair-elect,
and she serves as its chair this year. “I’ve always been into education,
and I’m really ambitious, so I have a lot of goals,” she said.
These goals include redesigning the student case study competition
to include a real-life situation, to update the Student Services website
page, and to increase interest in the ACHE of South Florida scholar-
ship.
“While we normally use a case study from Deloitte or out of the
Harvard Business Review, this year we worked with Brookfield
Properties to create a case study that would not only help them, but
raise money through sponsorship of the student competition,” she
said.
More than $5,500 was raised toward this goal, though unfortunate-
ly, the case study had to be canceled due to the COVID crisis.
Fortunately, it can be used next year.
“I’m also working to gain more notoriety for the ACHE of South
Florida scholarship, because we don’t receive a lot of applications for
the two scholarships that we award each year,” Pantoja-Smith said.
“Student Services chair-elect Ayana Miller and I are making school
visits across South Florida to let program coordinators know that it is
available.”
Pantoja-Smith also continues to promote ACHE’s educational and
networking opportunities. “When you meet people, you learn things
- there is always a takeaway,” she explained. “There are so many dif-
ferent types of people in ACHE; they are not all nurses or doctors,
and there’s so much you can learn from everyone with their unique
skills and personalities.
“Learning is how you grow as a person, so I always look for oppor-
tunities to learn in any situation - there’s a blessing there,” she added.

ACHE of South Florida

Supporting Our Members

During the COVID Crisis

ACHE of South Florida has a mission of supporting our mem-
bers through education, networking, mentoring, and career
related resources. In these unprecedented times, we know that
many of our members are working on the front lines of the
COVID 19 crisis and we salute all of you. We also are sensitive
to the reality that some members have been financially affected
by this crisis and may need some help.
As part of our continued support and commitment to our
members, ACHE of South Florida has established a Stimulus and
Relief Fund. This fund is meant to help members who are deal-
ing with financial hardship or other emergencies to pay for
expenses such as food, housing, utilities, school tuition or med-
ical treatment.
ACHE of South Florida will select 20 members to receive a
$500 stimulus check. Chapter members will receive communica-
tion via email with details regarding this initiative.

8 May 2020 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News