Wading on a sandy beach along the coast of Maine in ankle deep water, something brushed against Hollie Shaner-McRae’s ankle. Curious, Shaner-McRae, at the time a registered nurse at Fletcher Allen Hospital in Burlington, reached into the water and found what had touched her ankle – a foam soda can holder. It wasn’t just any cover, but a cover with the words "Hollywood, Florida" embossed on it, the community where she had spent many of her first 12 years of life.

     This moment, that many of us would most likely have brushed aside, became a focal point in Shaner-McRae’s life. Since that moment, as a registered nurse, she dedicated her life to sharing the message to the world about the wide ranging effect that environmental pollution has on human health. However, as of February 2003, she has a new challenge – serving as the vice president of nursing at North Country Hospital and Health System in Newport.

     As vice president, it’s her role to oversee the nursing staff. Meanwhile, she fully intends to continue to share her message about the environment/health connection.

    "No matter what, you’re not going to be healthy without clean water and clean air," a highly energized Shaner-McRae said during a chat in February, shortly after arriving in Newport.

    Shaner-McRae comes to the Northeast Kingdom with an extremely impressive resume. In 1976 she earned b an associate of science degree in nursing from Gloucester County College in Sewell, New Jersey. Then, in 1983, she earned a bachelors degree in psychology from the University of Vermont. In 1995 she earned a masters degree in administration from St. Michaels College in Colchester. From 1978 to 2000, she worked at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington where she was a nurse in numerous departments. She has also toured the world speaking about the link between environmental pollution and human health, including serving as one of the guest speakers at the International Council of Nurses in 1999 in London, England. During that gathering she had the opportunity to share her ideas with nurses from around the world.

     "That was one of the high points in my career," Shaner-McRae said. She and her husband, Glenn McRae, an anthropologist, a man she calls "a wonderful person", also founded two organizations designed to address the connection between environmental pollution and human health. The Nightingale Institute for Health and the Environment is a non-profit organization focused on educating nurses about the environmental impact of healthcare delivery. Information about this organization can be found at www.nihe.org. CGH Environmental Strategies is a consulting firm specializes in healthcare pollution prevention.

     So, why would a nurse who is known throughout the world as an International speaker on the issue of health and the environment, who has spoken or worked in such places as Washington D.C., New Zealand, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Brazil – a nurse who has appeared on ABC, CNN, and Good Morning America as a professional on issues relating to the environment and health, want to come to North Country, a small community hospital? That wasn’t a difficult question for Shaner-McRae to answer.

     "It’s nice to be in a place where community still matters," she said. "It’s nice to live in a place where people know one another." But, as importantly, she is excited to work in a small community hospital where patients are more than numbers. They are people with names and hopes and dreams. Besides that, she added, that following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, traveling so extensively lost its appeal. It was time to be more Vermont based.

     Another major turning point in her life was the death of her mother during the summer of 2002 at the relatively young age of 67 years old. "I did a lot of soul searching and self-reflecting. I decided it was time for a change."

     Now, here in Newport, Shaner-McRae reminisced about her rise into the nursing profession. "When I was little I wanted to be a nurse," the deeply spiritual woman, a follower of the Bahai faith, explained. "I’ve always like taking care of people.

     There was a woman in Shaner-McRae’s life who also helped mold her into the woman, nurse, and environmental advocate that she is today. That woman was a 19^th century nurse who died decades before the new vice-president was born. That nurse was the now world renowned, Florence Nightingale.

    "Florence Nightingale is my hero," Shaner-McRae said proudly. "She is a big inspiration in my life." Nightingale developed the idea that the role of nurses is more than to treat patients, but also to manage the environment. She was disturbed by the sight of soldiers dying in battlefield hospitals not of their injuries, but of illnesses contracted by less than sanity conditions, particularly dirty air and water as well as a lack of sunlight. The modern day medical establishment still continues to learn from Nightingale’s knowledge, Shaner-McRae said. One of her favorite quotes was made by Nightingale.

     "No amount of medical knowledge will lessen the accountability for nurses to do what nurses do, that is managing the environment to promote positive life processes."

     Filled with boundless energy, Shaner-McRae radiates a contagious enthusiasm and passion for life. "I’m here to serve," she said with a beaming smile. She is looking forward to meeting members of the community the hospital serves and looks forward to learning how the hospital can better serve them.

Affiliated with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
One Medical Center Drive  Lebanon, NH 03756 Phone: (603)650-5000

North Country Heath Systems, Inc
189 Prouty Drive  Newport, Vermont 05855  Phone: (802) 334-7331