Labouré Alumni Spotlight: Michael Denaro, MSN, RN, Class of 1993

In a return to his roots, Labouré graduate, Michael Denaro, MSN, RN, returned to the College in 2014 as the Clinical and Compliance Director. While his role now has him working in an administrative capacity, his journey in healthcare began as a student in Labouré’s associate degree in nursing program learning hands-on patient care. A Quincy native, Denaro came across town to Labouré because of its excellent reputation. From the start, his classroom and clinical instructors instilled him the need to be prepared for anything. “I remember how proud I was when my clinical instructor would enter my patient's room and find that everything was taken care of - that I had anticipated her questions and worked to learn her expectations and deliver on them. To this day, and in my current position, I consider my ability to anticipate and prepare as being rooted in my time at Labouré College.” Denaro remembers Jessica Begin, MSN, his late professor, with a special fondness saying, “Her legacy continues today as I strive to be as approachable, sincere, credible, all the while not taking myself too seriously. “ After graduating, he stayed local and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in nursing from Curry College and his master’s degree in nursing from UMass Boston.

In his professional career, Denaro worked in gerontology, caring for aging patients in long-term care facilities. He was also able to serve as the as President of his Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, International Honor Society of Nursing collaborating with the best and the brightest in the nursing profession. Additionally, Denaro felt called to work with nursing students and thus has remained involved in nursing education, serving as an assistant professor at Curry College and MassBay Community College, as well as many other roles. Reflecting back on his own time as a student, he now advises students to, “be wary of "advice". Often those ‘in the know’ will offer advice on exactly how your career should unfold. The reality is that, now more than ever, a nurse can pursue nearly any path they choose. Follow your dreams!”

Denaro lives on the South Shore with his wife Kristy- a nurse- and loves being a dad to his three kids!

Favorite Quote: “The greatness comes not when things go always good for you. But the greatness comes when you're really tested, when you take some knocks, some disappointments, when sadness comes. Because only if you've been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain.” ― Richard M. Nixon