Buckeye Inspiration: Teresa DiMeo

Pictured above: A show of hands from the Friends of Teresa

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by Susan Neale

According to a recent article in Healthbeat Hub, FOT is a common notation at the Hand and Upper Extremity Center. It stands for “Friend of Teresa.” That’s Teresa DiMeo, MS, APRN-CNP, CNOR, (’86, ’93 MS), who has worked at the center for 15 years and inspired many with her kindness, mentorship and expertise.

The article noted that DiMeo has provided personalized, high-quality care to thousands of patients. Referring providers, some of whom trained with her at the Hand and Upper Extremity Center, trust her to take good care of their patients. “She always goes out of her way to provide and coordinate excellent, efficient care … Teresa doesn’t know a stranger and makes every patient feel like family.”

To honor her, a crowd of coworkers and patients surprised DiMeo last December with a show of appreciation, wearing “Friend of Teresa” t-shirts and buttons.

Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine APP Manager Stephanie Stradley, PA-C, was happy to comment. “The kindness, compassion, attention to detail and customer service Teresa provides are known throughout the Orthopaedic department. Patients truly appreciate her genuine nature and thorough approach to their care.”

 

Stepping stones to success

“My entire nursing career has been at the Ohio State Medical Center. I have had many roles over the years: floor nurse, OR nurse, charge nurse, assistant nurse manager, CNS, PCRM and nurse practitioner,” DiMeo said. She noted that she had seen many changes in healthcare along the way such as the electronic medical record, a more complete and efficient way of documenting that made patients’ previous healthcare information available instantly instead of stored away on paper in an office.

“Each job as been a stepping stone to the next and I have developed so many skills along the way,” she said. The Friends of Teresa agree that one of her greatest skills is the empathy and kindness she shows everyone.

Right from the start, DiMeo learned how important caring mentors are. Her first professional job as a new grad in 1986 was on 10 West Doan Hall on a head and neck cancer unit before The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) was developed. She reported to David Schuller, MD, who later opened OSUCCC – James.

The scene was, in her words, “Very radical surgery with many tubes, traches, stomas and IVs – and very overwhelming!” Luckily, Karen Nedelka and Renee Mong were her preceptors, and would become her lifelong friends. “These two nurses shaped me into the nurse I am today. They taught me everything I needed to know.” Other mentors helped her along the way, too. “My 10 years on the Neurosurgery team were spent alongside the best mentor of my career, Susan Bell,” she said. Perhaps the strongest influence, though, was her family.

 

Family inspiration

DiMeo comes from the small town of Mingo Junction, nestled next to Steubenville in eastern Ohio. “My grandfather immigrated to Mingo from Italy and worked at the Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel plant for a better life for his family. We all lived in one house where both English and Italian were spoken. That really taught us about work ethic, religion and family,” she said. “My parents instilled the importance of education, learning and growing in their children. They were very proud of us.” All three siblings went on to college educations and prosperous careers.

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Now DiMeo encourages others to “pursue what you are passionate about and don’t think you can’t achieve it!” That vision helped get her where she is today. “It is uncommon for an NP to first assist in the OR at OSUMC, and it was a dream of mine. I actually wrote a paper in graduate school about the exact role that I am in now.”

While working at the Orthopaedic Trauma Service, she and Laura Phieffer, MD, worked with the crendentialing team to develop the position. Since then, she has been a first assist in the OR for more than 20 years and she has continued to develop and expand the role.

DiMeo was able to get in on the ground floor and help develop the Hand and Upper Extremity Center. As part of a team who serve at multiple locations across the city, her many responsibilities include seeing patients independently in the office, being first assist in the OR and at ambulatory care sites and taking part in research projects and weekly educational sessions with the attendings, residents and APP Fellows.

DiMeo is a preceptor for both NP students and the Ohio State APP Fellowship program. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and watching students grow and learn. “Being part of a teaching and learning institution is very rewarding,” she said.

“The team at the Hand and Upper Extremity Center is a family and they make working enjoyable. Ortho surgeons, plastic surgeons, PAs, nurses, occupational therapists, ATCs, schedulers, x-ray techs and admins – we are a well-oiled machine. We genuinely enjoy working with each other.

“They teach me and I teach them. We are continually learning, challenging others to take great care of patients and developing the tools to do so.”

 

A career Buckeye Nurse

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DiMeo is an avid member of the College of Nursing Alumni Society, serving on its executive board. She has a passion for raising money for nursing student scholarships and has helped plan and participated in many fundraisers for that cause. She has also received multiple awards during her career, including the Gail Johannes Award, the Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses Award of Excellence and the Ohio State College of Nursing Alumni Award. As she approaches the milestone of 40 years of service in 2027, she’s certain of one thing: “I will stay close to Ohio State, the place where I started, grew, was afforded so many great opportunities and met so many wonderful people.”