Melanie New – County College of Morris

Melanie New ’19

Melanie New Portrait A respiratory therapist at Atlantic Health’s Morristown Medical Center, County College of Morris graduate Melanie New ’19 has been working on the front lines of the COVID-19.

“I chose this profession because I was always interested in the medical field but wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, My mom went to CCM for respiratory therapy and seemed to really enjoy her job.”

She added, “With CCM’s compact, yet thorough, Respiratory Therapy Program and the help of Professor Rutkowski, Professor Fong and all my clinical instructors, I was able to learn everything I needed to pass my boards and start working at the number one hospital in New Jersey before learning much, much more on the job. Now we are facing a pandemic and I feel comfortable enough with my skills to care for these patients while keeping myself safe. I can’t thank my allies at CCM and Morristown Medical Center enough for preparing me.”

The following Facebook post sums up why we are #CCMPROUD of New and how she exemplifies #NJCCHeroes.

“Any respiratory therapist could have helped anesthesia put that tube in and transport the patient, but I’m glad I was lucky enough to do it, because while that man was intubated and on the ventilator and terrified in SICU I made sure that his hand was held and he was loved and comforted during undoubtedly the scariest time of his life. THAT is what I signed up for. THAT is why I do what I do. How wonderful it is to be human.”