Sponsor Highlight: Rodan + Fields, Julie Weidemier

Julie Weidemier is our latest TOWN supporter and we’re so excited she’s helping us achieve our goals. A longtime resident of Watertown, Julie is a Director of Continuous Improvement at Cerner Corporation and additionally has set out to create her own small business with Rodan + Fields, selling quality skincare, especially focused on treating acne. She knew TOWN would be a great cause to support while spreading the word about her business!

Julie went to Sacred Heart High School and worked at Waterbury hospital as an RN for 15+ years. She’s an integral part of the Watertown community, her mother Corky Plourde has owned and run numerous Watertown restaurants, her sister, Monica Keane Quadrato, is a Watertown educator, and her daughter, Miranda Weidemier, is head cheerleading coach at WHS! Seriously, integral to the Watertown community.

If you’re having skincare issues or just need some solid inspiration, Julie is your girl!

If you’re interested in following her business, follow her instagram @juliern or check out her online shop!

Giving Hope: Heather Humphrey

Heather Humphrey, Class of 2008, Oakville, Connecticut

What are you up to? I work as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner for an outpatient behavioral health program. I care for both patients with mental illness as well as substance abuse. I provide medication assisted treatment (such as Suboxone) to individuals with Opiate Use Disorder and work with an amazing group of clinicians to provide group programs and services to these patients. 

Other than my career I’m a mom to two beautiful boys and I have an amazing husband.

How'd you get here? Growing up I’ve had a lot of personal experience with substance abuse and mental health. Seeing first-hand what it can do to someone and their loved ones pushed me to find a way to help those in need. Watertown High School have me a great starting point, as I started in the CNA program there. From there I went to college for to become a Registered Nurse (RN) and began my career as a Psychiatric Nurse on an inpatient floor. I became manager of the floor while I pursued my degree as a Psych Nurse Practitioner. Once this was done, I started working at the outpatient program. They had a need in their addictions program, so I offered to help there (not realizing at the time I had an interest in addictions). I fell in love with working with those patients and the rest is history. I now work with those who have mental health issues as well as those with substance abuse problems.

What are your goals? The goal I have for my practice, and life in general, is to give people hope. Hope that there is help out there and someone who cares. Hope that the addiction doesn’t have to continue to run their lives and that they can and will overcome it. My goal is to help people realize that mental health as well as addiction are a disease. I believe there needs to be more education about mental health and substance abuse problems and more support from our communities to help these individuals.

If you could tell your high school self one thing, what would it be? As much as I love my life and where I am both personally and in my career, there are days I wish I traveled more, tried new things, explored the world. Be fearless, don’t let anyone tell you what should make you happy or what kind of life you should have.

A Running RN: Jennifer D'Angelo

Jennifer D'Angelo, Class of 2008, Cheshire, CT

What are you up to? I'm very happy to be a registered nurse at Smilow Cancer Hospital, part of Yale-New Haven Hospital. I started working there in May, on one of the outpatient floors. My day consists of administering chemotherapy to hematology patients (patients diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma), drawing their labs and giving them blood products as needed. I love taking care of oncology patients. They are the nicest, most grateful people I have ever met. I have taken care of cancer patients whose ages range from early 20s to 90s. 

I recently passed my oncology nursing certification and I am going into my 2nd semester as a graduate nursing student at Western CT State University in the Adult Nurse Practitioner Program. 

Even after tearing my meniscus and getting knee surgery in 2014, I'm still running. I ran my 2nd half-marathon last November; the Disneyland Half Marathon.

How'd you get here? Before my current job, I worked as a RN at Saint Mary's Hospital on an inpatient medical oncology floor. The floor was not 100% oncology so when I got tired of working the 3pm-11pm shift, I moved on to my current job. I absolutely love oncology nursing. If someone told me in high school or even while I was in nursing school, that I would work in oncology, I would have told them, "No way! It's too sad!" But after I graduated nursing school, I had two grandparents diagnosed with cancer. They passed away a year later. It changed me, in a good way. I really love being able to give back to these patients and their families.

What are your goals? In December 2018, I will be done with my MSN degree, take my boards, and become a certified APRN. My dream job would be to continue to work at Yale-New Haven Hospital as one of their oncology APRNs. After I graduate, I want to get married and have kids. 

I also want to run more half marathons and hopefully a full marathon if my knee cooperates.

Advice for WHS Students?

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. Remember what makes you comfortable will never make you grow. 

Don't take your high school relationships seriously. You will change so much even though you may think you won't, you will. True love comes around when you LEAST expect it to. Don't go searching. 

Don't take things or people for granted. Be grateful for your health and for the people in your life who love you. 

May the force be with you.

What is your greatest weakness? I worry too much.