Senior nursing students at Roberts Wesleyan University recently had the opportunity to connect what they were learning in the classroom with the firsthand experience of a patient.
Scott Hetsko, meteorologist with 13WHAM, virtually joined the NRSG 4600 senior nursing class on September 15th to share his experience with cardiomyopathy, heart failure and ultimately receiving a heart transplant. The conversation complemented the students’ current study of heart arrhythmias and gave them the opportunity to ask questions about his medical history, symptoms and treatment.
Hetsko shared how testing after the onset of symptoms led to a diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease that caused inflammation in his heart and lungs. As his cardiomyopathy progressed, his heart struggled to pump effectively and he was eventually placed on the heart transplant waiting list.
In 2015, Hetsko experienced two major episodes of tachycardia, including one in which his heart stopped for approximately three minutes. As he spoke to the students, he mentioned that almost exactly 11 years ago to the day (9/15/26), a nurse delivered the news he had been waiting for: “We have a heart for you.”
The match was particularly strong because of his blood type and the donor’s heart size. More than a decade later, his care continues through regular medical appointments and medications designed to help prevent his body from rejecting the transplant.
Throughout the conversation, Hetsko emphasized the role nurses have played in his journey, from the nurse who first told him a donor heart was available to those who continue to care for him today.
“Nurses were very important to me. They still are,” Hetsko told the class, while also commending the students for choosing a profession centered on caring for others.
Experiences like this give Roberts nursing students an opportunity to see the person behind the diagnosis and understand how the clinical knowledge they are developing will one day shape the care they provide to their own patients. Throughout the Nursing program, students build that connection between knowledge and compassionate care through hands-on learning, clinical experiences, and opportunities to learn from the people whose lives have been impacted by healthcare professionals.
If you’re considering a career in nursing, Roberts Wesleyan University can help you prepare for the moments when your knowledge, skill, and compassion matter most. Explore Nursing at Roberts and discover how you can learn to care for the whole person while preparing for a career that makes a difference.
About the author
Roberts Wesleyan University
As a community of learners committed to historic Christianity, Roberts Wesleyan University seeks to prepare thoughtful, spiritually mature, service-oriented people who will help transform society.
We are a private Christian university in Rochester, New York, offering over 80 undergraduate and graduate programs.
As the only NCAA Division II institution in the region and member of the East Coast Conference, Roberts is committed to academic excellence, spiritual formation, and competitive athletics.