Temple TUFF: Field Hockey Alum Beth Sandy

The success that Temple Athletics Alumni have experienced in the medical field is not only demonstrated through early career success, but also the ability to navigate a demanding field for over 15 years. Beth Sandy as a Temple Field Hockey player

Beth Sandy as a Temple Field Hockey player

A stellar example is former Temple field hockey player and Class of 1998 graduate, Beth Sandy. Following her graduation, she earned an RN position at Temple Hospital working with the Inpatient Medical Surgery Oncology Unit. Following her time as a professional at Temple, she returned to life as a Temple student to obtain her MSN to become a nurse practitioner.

Upon graduating from her master's program, Sandy began work at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital in its Oncology Unit. She has now been there for 17 years. In addition to her work at UPenn, "I have also served in several roles as a speaker at conferences and chairing some conferences in my oncology specialty," explained Sandy.

Initially, Sandy entered the field for a plethora of reasons. "I became a nurse because my mother was a nurse and number one, I like taking care of people, and number two, there is very good job security," she explained.

The drive to take care of people is what has powered Sandy through the smooth times into the rough times similar to what the healthcare profession is experiencing with COVID-19. "Helping patients and families through their cancer journey, trying to understand what they are going through and offering hope and coping during this time," she explained. "Going through this COVID-19 pandemic has made this especially hard because I cannot hold a hand or give hugs, or just be in the room, sitting close by to listen to patients."

Sandy is able to look back at her time at Temple as a place where she could develop traits outside the hospital that have led her to long term success. "The discipline of 5:30am field hockey practices in the freezing cold winter on the gymnasium floor taught me to work so hard to be very good at something," Sandy explained.

It is not just discipline that athletics alumni such as Sandy pull from their time competing at the D1 level, but the ability to work with a team. "Being part of a team is a wonderful experience, learning to work together, and also get along with different personalities," Sandy pointed out.

The outbreak of the coronavirus has changed the way that medical professionals approach their daily tasks. For Sandy, her cancer center has placed the staff on a rolling schedule with only one NP and one MD to be in the building each day. "My day is Tuesdays. I go into the office each Tuesday and see urgent and sick patients," explained Sandy.

Sandy's over twenty years of field experience have prepared her to tackle challenges as large as COVID. In an interview, she provided her best advice on how to approach this crisis:

"My first strong recommendation is please, please, stay at home. Social distancing is the way to stop the spread of this disease. I know it is really hard, we want to be with our friends and family. This is really hard psychologically and emotionally, but it is very necessary. Only go out to get food or essentials. Please stay home, if you go out or get together in a group of people, you are putting everyone at risk. Remember, even if you are a carrier without having symptoms, you could pass it on to someone which could result in a deadly virus to them. How to give back? well, this is hard because you would have to do it from home. I think call and facetime often, especially with people who are at home alone. Order some takeout/delivery to try to give business to the restaurant business which is struggling tremendously. Send a card or letter to someone to brighten their day. I wish I could say to volunteer for a good cause, but if you can do that virtually, then yes, but limit any in-person contact please."

Temple University Athletics

Temple TUFF: Field Hockey Alum Beth Sandy

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