Author: Dabney Weems
Healthcare workers, especially nurses, have built a name for themselves as those wanting to serve others. The Department of Public Safety Nursing Resource Liaison Ramesh “Ram” Upadhyaya is the epitome of public servant and has spent his entire career serving others.
Upadhyaya joined DPS in 2016 and spends his days recruiting other nurses to work at DPS healthcare facilities. He works career fairs and visits with nursing students to tell them about nursing opportunities throughout DPS.
“DPS has great career opportunities for nurses,” said Upadhyaya. “It is a wide variety too with up-to-date equipment. From sick call to triage to emergency care. There are all kinds of places for nurses.”
His passion for his profession runs deep as he serves in leadership on many professional organizations and is always furthering his education. Upadhyaya is currently president of the North Carolina Association of Health Care Recruiters and co-chair of the North Carolina Correctional Association – Health Care Professionals section. He is currently completing requirements for his Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at Lenoir-Rhyne University. He has also taught classes to nursing students and published nearly 50 papers on various nursing topics.
Upadhyaya was taught a love of STEM and service to the others by his parents. His father, who immigrated to the U.S. from India at a historic time during the country’s path to independence, was an electrical engineer. It was his mother though who instilled his love of healthcare. His mother and growing up watching MASH on tv.
The California native is also a U.S. Army veteran serving as a medical specialist at Fort Drum in New York. The passion for serving others doesn’t stop with Upadhyaya though. His wife, Lisa Harden, is also dedicated to public service working as a probation and parole officer for DPS.
“I became a nurse to contribute to the well-being of people, especially underserved and vulnerable communities,” said Upadhyaya. “I have truly been blessed to do what I love. Not only do I get to help others, I get to recruit people to serve this mission with me. How lucky am I?”
For Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Department of Public Safety is spotlighting employees who have displayed exemplary service to their communities, either through their job or in their free time. Find more inspiring stories here.