New York Times commends Fil-Am nurse for contribution to health care

A Filipino-American nurse was recognized by the New York Times for his contribution to the healthcare industry in the New York metropolitan area, an online report said. An article posted on the news site "Asian Journal" said Fil-Am nurse Michael Tagadaya received the New York Times’ 2011 Tribute to Nurses Award for Innovation and Leadership during a simple award ceremony in Manhattan last week. “I received a call from the Times congratulating me for winning in various categories and informed me that they were creating a new award—on innovation and leadership—just for me. It was almost unbelievable,” Tagadaya told the Asian Journal. Tagadaya is currently nurse manager at the New York University Langone Medical Center Hospital for Joint Diseases (NYU-HJD).  His colleagues at the hospital reportedly nominated him for the award for his outstanding contribution to the healthcare field in the tri-state area. Among  his achievements were:

• the introduction of paddle pagers, which supposedly ease the family members’ concerns about their loved ones’ surgeries;
• the creation of new staff positions to bridge the gap between operating room and recovery room; and
• his participation in a research team whose work was recognized by the NYU-HJD.

“This award means so much to me. It’s not a personal victory, not a personal achievement as I am very thankful to everyone who has, in one way or the other, helped me throughout this journey,” he said in the report. Mindanao-born Tagadaya obtained his nursing degree at the Notre Dame University in Cotabato City.  He passed the board exams in 1991 and he moved to the United States eight years later. However, Tagadaya said he did not immediately land his dream job.  He said he was rejected by the NYU-HJD many times. “They turned me down the first time but I did not let that deter me. I applied for a second time and I was rejected again. After six months, I applied again and I kept knocking and asked that they see me and hear what I had to offer. I wanted them to know me,” he was quoted as saying. He said he worked like a machine, never got overwhelmed, and was grateful to earn a living for his family. According to the report, Tagadaya's father was a police officer while his mother was a housewife who took care of him and seven of his siblings. He is reportedly the fourth child and the eldest among the boys. “Everything that I do here is not just for me but for my entire family. We had to go through a lot and I have to be a source of inspiration specially to my nephews and nieces,” he said in the report. - with Kim Tan, VVP, GMA News