Photo by Krystal Hicks

As the leaves start turning and campus becomes its chilly autumn self again, students and staff alike might start feeling a little under the weather. If you're fortunate enough to be reintroduced to a sore throat, or the common cold this winter, you might just run into Janet Lawson at Health Services.

Originally from Arlington, Massachusetts, Janet attended a private high school in Cambridge, which is now Lexington Christian Academy. Many students her age became interested in nursing, but for Janet, the ambition came about much earlier on. "I had a mom who was ill quite a bit," she recalls. "We had a big family as well, so there were always brothers and sisters to care for."

Growing up, Janet's mentor was her aunt, a nurse, who also lived with them. Learning how to help people, even at such a young age, became Janet's main aspiration. "From the time I was probably seven or eight, I knew that's what I was going to be," she smiles. "I never entertained any other thought." When she was fourteen, Janet would take the hour and a half long bus and subway ride to Boston to work as a nurse's aide at New England Baptist hospital. "It was a lot of traveling," she remembers, "but it gave me such great joy and satisfaction in helping others."

Janet came to work at facilities like Central Maine Medical and Portsmouth Hospital until she became ill in 1977, taking a year off to recover. When she decided to return to nursing, Janet concluded that she wanted to challenge herself more mentally, rather than physically. In 1979, she found that challenge by accepting a part time position at UNH's Health Services Department, which was then stationed in Hood House. "Oh it was beautiful," Janet laughs. "There was a grand staircase and the offices had fireplaces surrounded with beautiful imported Italian tiles. It still has a lot of charm."

In 1983, she obtained a managerial position for a 24-hour, eight-bed in-patient area. In 1988, Health Services outgrew Hood House and was moved to its present location at 12 Ballard Street. The in-patient area was eventually closed and for the next two years, Janet worked in a collaborative practice with one of the physicians until finally the team approach was developed, which is what she remains to be apart of today. "A team consists of a Physician (MD), a Nurse Practitioner (ARNP), a Registered Nurse (RN), a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Medical Assistant (LMA)," explains Janet. "Medical Services is divided into four teams which continues to meet the various needs of the student body, staff, employees, and faculty members today."

As an RN-C, Janet performs an assortment of different tasks in order to better meet a patient's needs. She regularly performs nursing assessments and interventions, while also educating patients in health and preventative care. Because many students are under their parent's insurance, there can sometimes be confusion as to whether or not the policy will cover them to see a different doctor if special tests or procedures are needed. "A lot of times students don't know how to navigate the insurance system to obtain necessary care," explains Janet. "We become their advocate helping them get referrals for specialists and tests within their insurance carriers network."

Janet also likes to inform students about the various services the department puts out there. "There's really a lot this place offers," encourages Janet. "We have a wonderful Health Education Department. Our educators do a lot on campus and with the students in the dorms. We offer different programs on stress management, diet and nutrition, and alcohol education." Health Services is also offering massage therapy, acupuncture, free smoking "quit kits," and a number of other beneficial programs that students and staff members may take advantage of. She recommends checking out their homepage at: http://www.unh.edu/health-services for more information and program scheduling.

As a part of her day, Janet also assists the Medical Doctors and mid-level practitioners in various procedures; however, she sees between four and eight of her own patients daily. After meeting with them, Janet likes to maintain steady follow up care within Health Services or the community health care provider. Interacting with the students continues to be one of her favorite aspects of the job. "I learn from them as much as they learn from me." She says, "A positive attitude or teachable moment can make all the difference in the healing process." One thing Janet makes very clear is how she feels about her colleagues. "The staff and employees within this department are a truly dedicated group of people," she states. "They are most professional, respectful, and strive daily to provide the highest quality of care for the population we serve."

Today, Janet holds on to her love of traveling and ventures out to places much further than Massachusetts. Not only did she explore Egypt with her colleagues in 1994, but for the past 20 years, Janet has also managed to tour the United States with her husband on the back of his motorcycle. She also enjoys gardening, working with stained glass, snowmobiling in the winter, and spending time with her two sons and 14 year old granddaughter. She undeniably loves what she does though, and admits that she couldn't see herself doing anything else.