When Alexis Parks, DNP, reflects on what first drew her to nursing, she returns to a moment marked by both heartbreak and humanity. She was just 11 years old when her grandmother, Wanda, was diagnosed with cancer. The weeks that followed were a blur of hospital stays and, eventually, home hospice care. Wanda’s battle was brief – only six weeks – but its impact on Parks would last a lifetime.

“Amid the uncertainty and grief, what stood out most was the extraordinary impact of the nurses,” Parks said. “Their kindness and dedication extended far beyond my nana’s medical needs. They offered comfort, strength and support to our entire family during one of the most difficult times in our lives.”

That early encounter with compassionate care planted the seed for a career that has since spanned critical care, emergency medicine, maternity, home health and education.

“I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the full spectrum of life, from birth to death,” Parks said. “There have been incredibly fulfilling days and deeply challenging ones, but what stands out most is the impact I’ve been able to make on patients and their families. Those connections will always be special to me.”

A three‑time graduate of PennWest, earning her BSN, MSN and DNP, Parks now serves as an instructor in PennWest’s School of Nursing and co-advisor of the Student Nurse Organization of Edinboro. For her students, she has become both an academic guide and a model of the empathy she first witnessed as a child.

“Dr. Parks is one of the most respected faculty members in the department and is highly respected by the students,” said fellow nursing faculty member Andrea Chelton, DNP. “Her dedication to the profession and to providing an optimal educational environment is evident in the way she makes herself available for students, shares her experiences and engages them beyond the classroom.”

For Parks, mentorship is not an obligation but a calling. She often reminds students that small acts of compassion – taking a moment to hold a patient’s hand, truly listening to family members, advocating when it matters – are the heart of nursing.

“In nursing, there are many difficult days,” she said. “For many of my patients, I am meeting them during some of the hardest moments of their lives. If I can be a steady, compassionate presence for them and their families, that gives my work meaning.”

Now, as an instructor, the most rewarding moment of her year comes each spring, when students receive their nursing pins.

“I watch them come in as freshmen, often unsure of how to even begin a conversation with a patient,” she said. “Then I watch them leave PennWest as confident graduates who have passed their boards and are stepping into their roles as registered nurses.”

Parks sees nurses as vital threads in the fabric of the region, trusted advocates who offer comfort, familiarity and skill to neighbors in need.

“Nurses help people feel seen and supported,” she said. “Their compassion and dedication not only improve health but also strengthen the heart of the community.”

She feels privileged to shape the next generation of caregivers.

“Teaching nursing has become my greatest passion,” she said. “I hope my students carry with them the many small but meaningful lessons I’ve tried to share – that life is precious, the importance of continuing to learn, and never being afraid to ask questions or advocate for those in their care. And perhaps most importantly, I hope they remember to care for themselves, too, so they can continue to care for others with compassion and strength.”