Alumni Journey: From Engineering to Compassionate Nursing

Born in the Dominican Republic, Luisa Vega's early life was marked by the influence of her parents—her mother, a nurse, and her father, an engineer. At age 18, she joined the U.S. military and served in the Army Reserves for eight years. Following her military service, Vega pursued a career in engineering working at a telecommunication company in New York City. While there, she was directly exposed to the devasting events of 9/11 and its tragic aftermath. After working for six months at Ground Zero, she developed health conditions which led her to move to Florida to pursue a bachelor of science in nursing degree at South University in Tampa.

"When I had to make a career change after 9/11, I felt that I was too old to go to medical school, but I could still be in the medical field being a nurse practitioner," she explained. This decision led her to follow in her mother's footsteps, blending her technical background with a newfound passion for nursing.

Inheriting a Passion for Nursing

Vega vividly recalls a moment from her youth in the Dominican Republic going with her mother to visit a patient: "My mom was asked to visit a lady at her home to give her morphine shots because she was dying from end stage cancer and she couldn’t move.” This memory left a lasting impression on Vega, shaping her understanding of what it means to be a nurse. "Nurses are really strong people," she reflected. "Their emotional support, their dedication and compassion."

After graduating with her nursing degree, she took a job with a Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital located in Saint Petersburg, FL. Her work at the VA opened her eyes to the complexities of mental health and trauma. "Being a nurse at the VA and getting to see what PTSD looked like—it really opened my eyes to the mental health needs and what nursing means," she said.

While at the VA, she was also a student at Duke. Vega’s time at Duke was marked by a sense of mission and determination. "I think like a soldier, I have a mission. I need to get through things," she said. The program's flexibility allowed her to balance her studies with her responsibilities at the VA hospital. "The fact that I was able to go to such a prestigious school and be flexible in a sense that classes were online and I only had to be on campus so many times a year, it was just perfect."

Initially, Vega chose to specialize in cardiology, driven by her work in a cardiology unit and the guidance of her advisor. However, her career path took another turn when she encountered the prevalence of mental illness in assisted living and nursing homes. This realization led her to pursue further education in mental health, highlighting her commitment to addressing the complex needs of her patients.

Her experience as an immigrant shapes her passion for health equity and her commitment to serving underserved communities. "Being an immigrant allows me to understand not only the lack of resources, but the lack of having someone who can help you with mental health and that speaks your language," she explained.

From Nurse to Entrepreneur

In 2020, Vega partnered with Spectrum Medical Partners and launched Psych Health Associates (PHA), a behavioral health group that provides quality and compassionate psychiatric care to residents residing in skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities. The increased demand for psychiatric care during the pandemic led to rapid growth. Today, Vega's team includes nearly 40 nurse practitioners, two psychiatrists, and about 16 medical assistants, serving approximately 140 nursing homes.

Vega is a former member of the School’s Nursing Alumni Council, and she gives to the Annual Fund and Bessie Baker Society. Her gratitude for the opportunities she received at Duke fuels her commitment to giving back. “Duke gave me scholarships. They gave me the opportunity to go to school. So now that I have the means to give back, it will be selfish not to help others,” she said. “I have to give, because they gave me the chance."

Learn more about how you can support the School of Nursing in our mission to train world-class nurse leaders: Giving to Duke University School of Nursing.