Emily Beyer

Growing up, I always wanted to be in the medical field. I initially considered working with animals like my mom, but I soon realized I wanted to help people directly and communicate with my patients to understand exactly where they hurt.

In high school, I didn’t have access to the courses that would’ve directly prepared me for this career. It wasn’t until I attended a local community college that I took relevant classes like anatomy and microbiology, which really helped shape my path.

To launch my career, I earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing, then eventually got a job as an operating room nurse focusing on orthopedics (bones and muscles) and neurosurgical (brain, spine or other nervous system surgery) cases. Around this time, I decided to pursue my master’s degree to become a nurse practitioner. I ultimately went all-in on neurosurgery. The pace, complexity of the patients and the intricacies of the neurological system won me over.

Now, as a neurosurgery nurse practitioner at Stormont Vail Health in Manhattan, I assist surgeons in the operating room, care for patients in the hospital and outpatient clinics, and manage diagnoses and treatment plans. I interpret images like X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, focusing on conditions involving the brain and spine. But what I enjoy most is scrubbing into surgeries and assisting the surgeon.

I truly enjoy living and working in Manhattan, where I get to serve a community that has always supported me. It’s rewarding to work alongside friends, neighbors and family, providing care to those in need.

For anyone interested in this field, my advice is to job shadow! I didn’t fully understand what the medical field entailed until I was in it. Exploring different specialties is key to finding what fits for you.