MedStar Health Pituitary Clinic at MedStar Washington Hospital Center

Stella Tchetgen, RN, BSN, MPH

It was not until I became an AmeriCorps Fellow working as an intake and support agent at Shepherd’s Alliance, a nonprofit organization serving men, women, and families on their path toward independent and sustainable lives, that my interest in nursing truly strengthened. Through this experience, I began to question how quality of life is shaped by the intersection of health, access to care, and socioeconomic stability.

While earning my Bachelor of Science in Nursing, I was hired by MedStar Washington Hospital Center as a Patient Care Technician in the Burn Intensive Care Unit and later transitioned into my role as a Neuroscience nurse. In this position, I cared for patients recovering from brain, spine, and thyroid surgeries, collaborating closely with physicians and allied health professionals to ensure patient safety and to educate patients and their families on post-operative care prior to discharge.  As I became increasingly involved in direct patient care and recognized the meaningful impact my work had on patients and their families, I developed a strong desire to expand my clinical skills. I became particularly interested in caring for critically ill patients and supporting families during some of their most vulnerable moments. This growing passion led me to transfer to the Medical Intensive Care Unit, where I further developed my ability to manage complex, high-acuity patients while delivering compassionate, evidence-based care. During my tenure in the Medical Intensive Care Unit, I trained incoming graduate nurses and students while simultaneously earning a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Global Health. This academic training deepened my understanding not only of disease pathophysiology, but more importantly of how social determinants of health, access to post-hospitalization resources, and continuity of care significantly influence patient outcomes and rates of rehospitalization in critical care settings.

Now, having transitioned into outpatient care as a Nurse Navigator within the Neuroscience Center and the MedStar Pituitary Clinic, I am able to integrate my inpatient expertise with comprehensive outpatient coordination. In this role, I educate and support patients on post-surgical recovery, medication adherence, and follow-up compliance, while coordinating their inpatient and outpatient experiences to promote continuity of care and improve long-term quality of life.

With nearly two decades of nursing experience, a deep foundation in inpatient critical care, and expanding expertise in outpatient navigation, I feel privileged to serve in a role where I can influence not only how patients are treated, but also how they are empowered to care for themselves. Through this work, I continue to strengthen my understanding of the vital connection between clinical excellence, patient education, and sustainable health outcomes.