Spotlighting the Career of LT Maria Delossantos
Biography Contributed by: LCDR Allison Gallen
This Nursing Spotlight is brought to you by CAPT Amy Valderrama, CDR Nichole Vetter, LCDR Allison Gallen, and LT Alyssa Givens
LT Maria Delossantos was commissioned with the USPHS in June of 2015. Although she has less than three years as an officer, her accomplishments have been significant and commendable. She began her nursing career in 2010 after completing her Associates of Applied Science in Nursing at Southside Virginia Community College. After working as a medical/surgical nurse at Duke Regional Hospital in Durham, NC she accepted a position with the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) in Butner, NC as a Medical Staff Nurse. Her desire to bring quality health care to this under-served population inspired her to make the transition into correctional nursing. It was here that she first learned about the USPHS from CAPT Maude Lyons. Under CAPT Lyons’ mentorship, LT Delossantos decided to pursue a career in the USPHS, which motivated her to complete her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). In March 2014, she earned her BSN from the University of Phoenix and applied to become a commissioned officer. After being called to active duty, she continued her work with the inmate population within the BOP. As a Medical Assistant Nurse Officer, she enjoyed working in an environment where she had a lower patient to staff ratio, increased patient interaction, and was able to, "establish a good plan of care and see it play out." Desiring a challenge and opportunity to make a greater impact, LT Delossantos was promoted to the Staff Program Management Officer. In her current role, she has been working as the acting Quality Improvement, Infection Control, and Utilization Review Manager for the facility. She ensures that inmates are receiving quality care and proper continuity of care, in a cost-saving and efficient manner. She is also responsible for preventing delays in care and helping inmates return to baseline functioning.
When LT Delossantos is not working at the BOP, she participates in community outreach and finding opportunities to be more involved with the USPHS. Her most cherished volunteer experience is the Healing with C.A.A.R.E. Mission in Durham, N.C, an annual event held during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. This particular mission is close to her heart because she says, "it reaches so many groups in need throughout the Durham area. It’s wonderful to see our officers getting out there in the community and making a difference."
Along with her volunteer efforts, LT Delossantos allocates time to serve as a voting member in the Nursing Professional Advisory Committee (N-PAC) and has served as Aide-de-Camp five times. Her first experience, volunteering as the Aide-de-Camp for RADM Sylvia Trent-Adams, took place only four months after she commissioned. The opportunity to work alongside USPHS nursing leaders was an extremely rewarding experience and one she encourages other officers to consider.
As a member of the Rapid Deployment Force 3, LT Delossantos has deployed to Baton Rouge, LA in 2016 for floods, Texas after Hurricane Harvey, and Puerto Rico for Hurricane Maria, both in 2017. She describes her deployments as both physically and mentally challenging, but rewarding. While in Puerto Rico, she experienced the difficulty of providing healthcare and resources to an area without economic infrastructure. LT Delossantos feels, "the Public Health Service is a caring service. We show up in a time of need and I have a great deal of respect for what we do for our nation."
Of the numerous committees that LT Delossantos is involved with, she feels that becoming an N-PAC voting member for the BOP has been the most beneficial. Becoming a vot-ing member has given her a platform to provide a voice for her nursing colleagues. Working with the other BOP voting members, she was able to establish a newsletter published monthly aimed at keeping BOP nurses up-to-date on N-PAC business and providing them with access to nursing resources. LT Delossantos also serves as recruiter and mentor with the BOP and the Black Commissioned Officers Advisory Group. When advising new officers about a career in the PHS, she recommends, "Take a look at the big picture and pace yourself. If you plan your career out ahead of time, it won’t seem as daunting." For all of her hard work and dedication to the USPHS, LT Delossantos was recently promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on April 1st of this year.
Return to Nursing Spotlight page
