Dr. Melvin Golosinda Medes did not walk away from the bedside, he expanded its borders. With a nursing and midwifery background shaped across eight countries in the Americas, Africa, and Asia, his career reads like a roadmap of service and transformation. Today, he serves as an Education Resource Specialist at Georgetown International Academy, a prestigious American international school in Guyana. But the journey here was neither linear nor expected. It was adaptive, reflective, and radically reimagined.
As an Education Resource Specialist, Dr. Medes brings his multidisciplinary training and global experience into sharp focus. His story is not just about shifting careers. It’s about recognizing untapped potential in every nurse and honoring the lived values of Filipino identity while empowering young minds worldwide.
When a crisis sparked a career reimagination
The COVID-19 pandemic forced many to retreat, but for Dr. Medes, it became a turning point. When his College of Nursing in the Caribbean closed due to the global recession, he made the counterintuitive decision to stay abroad rather than return to the Philippines.
“Returning home felt unwise,” he reflects. “Unemployment was at its peak, and visa restrictions made relocating impractical.” But what began as a logistical move turned into a calling.
His pivot to PK-12 education, particularly as a Special Education Learning Support Teacher, ignited a new synergy between nursing and education. He began to recognize the uncanny parallel between the nursing process, ADPIE (Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Intervention, Evaluation), and his new responsibilities as an Education Resource Specialist. “The setting changed, but the mission remained: assess, plan, act, and measure progress until each learner succeeds.”
Leading with pakikisama and purpose
Dr. Medes is quietly guided by his Filipino values. Concepts like pakikisama—creating a welcoming and nurturing environment—and utang na loob—a deep sense of gratitude—shape how he builds trust with students, colleagues, and families.
“I create spaces where students feel safe and seen, not just academically but culturally.” In lessons, he highlights the rich heritage of his students. In his support role, he shares his own multilingual journey to remind students that their identities are their greatest strengths.
He frames his educational efforts as a form of giving back. “I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to teach and the trust shown in me —and because of that, I endeavor to give my all.”
A bridge-builder between data, classrooms, and students
At Georgetown International Academy, Dr. Medes doesn’t just support learners—he empowers them through data-driven insight and individualized strategies. He leads small pull-out sessions for ELL (English Language Learner) students, provides push-in classroom support in core subjects, and helps align language objectives with content goals.
“By analyzing assessment data such as i-Ready, MAP Growth, WIDA, and teachers’ feedback, we design targeted interventions and actionable plans that guide classroom instruction, student support, and family support,” he added. He earned an “Exemplary” rating in the “Instructional Delivery” domain of AMISA Teacher Performance Evaluation System and positive feedback from his Director of Student Support for pacing, engagement, and fostering learner independence (Danielson Framework).
Beyond daily teaching, he remains committed to professional development. From completing modules in Utah Valley University-International Schools Services’ Bridge to Teaching Excellence program to traveling to Seattle for a WIDA conference, Dr. Medes models lifelong learning for the students he mentors.
Where nursing and education naturally intertwine
The evolution of nursing isn’t limited to hospitals. For Dr. Medes, it’s about recognizing education as a natural extension of nursing’s core mission.
“Nursing is a caring science. Education cannot succeed without care and trust between teacher and learner,” he asserts. “That’s why nurses can thrive in schools. Both professions are rooted in nurturing.”
Rather than choosing between two noble callings, Dr. Medes embodies them both, demonstrating that the roles of nurse and educator are complementary facets of the same commitment to care.
Words of courage for Filipino nurses seeking new frontiers
“Go for it,” Dr. Medes says with clarity and conviction. “Step outside your comfort zone and you’ll expand it.”
His advice to fellow Filipino nurses is grounded in both strategy and soul: start with what excites you, match your skills to new roles, invest in targeted learning, leverage Filipino strengths, and above all, stay resilient, curious, and respectful.
“Nursing may have started at the bedside, but it was never meant to stay there,” he reminds. “We are carers of the world, after all”
A message of kindness, courage, and collective strength
In closing, Dr. Medes offers a heartfelt message to the global Filipino nursing community:
“Find what gives your life meaning and purpose, and life will love you back. Grow where you are planted. I did, and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. I wish and pray that you get all the opportunities you deserve. If you’re struggling, ask for help. If you’re thriving, help others.”
“Please continue being kind to everyone. Continue being kind to fellow nurses. Remember, we are all just trying to earn a living, care for our families, and live comfortably and with dignity in this one lifetime. I just hope we can be an oasis for one another. Or maybe like a lamp that symbolizes the nursing profession.”
Dr. Medes’ story is a powerful call to reimagine what’s possible for nurses in education and a testament to how one person’s pivot can illuminate a path for many.
