This is part two of a new series the Sullivan County Democrat will be running each Friday in February in recognition of Black History Month.

LIBERTY -- Joan Patterson vividly remembers the day, as a teenager in Jamaica, that a woman walked by in her crisp white nursing uniform.

“I thought, that's what I want to be,” said Patterson. “I was very excited from the moment I arrived in this country. I knew clearly what path I wanted to pursue.”

Presently, the Liberty resident serves as Crystal Run Healthcare's Sullivan County Operations Director, and was formerly their director of nursing.

In her role as Operations Director, Patterson is responsible for the overall day-to- day operations for Crystal Run Healthcare's largest office in Sullivan County.

She holds a Bachelor of Science from Herbert Lehman College, and a Master of Science from the College of New Rochelle.

Prior to joining Crystal Run Healthcare, Patterson served at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx in several positions including Staff Nurse, Clinical Research Coordinator (Biomedical Research Alliance of New York, BRANY), Clinical Nurse Supervisor, Institutional Review Board member, to her last position as an Administrative Nurse Manager of a 37 bed Surgical/Progressive Care Unit. Additional duties included Assistant Director of Nursing (ADN), for off shift coverage as needed.

Patterson with her husband Ison (a retired Assistant Deputy Warden with NYC Department of Corrections), are parents of four adult sons.

When not working in the medical field or with family, Patterson dedicates a lot of her “spare” time to the community.

As one of ten children, Patterson was taught at a young age by her mother (who is 95 going on 96) to be involved, starting in the church.

“She would put on plays and skits, so we weren't raised to be shy,” said Patterson, who has always been outgoing.

She either currently is or has been involved with the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, SUNY Sullivan Advisory Board, SullivanArc Foundation Board (now the The Arc Greater Hudson Valley), Hudson Valley Walk to Cure Arthritis Committee, American Nurses Association, and Sigma Theta Tau International.

Patterson is a 2014 graduate of Leadership Sullivan, and in 2019, was honored by the Sullivan County Federation for the Homeless, earning their ‘Wonder Women' Recognition.

The ongoing pandemic has been a challenge for us all. When asked what it has taught her, Patterson said, “That it's ok to cry ... it's ok to be lonely. To learn things that [might] intimidate you. It's ok to not know what you're doing sometimes, to be vulnerable ... to not always be the pillar of strength you want to be. It's taught me to try to be a little more patient and forgiving, not only with myself, as well as [with] others.”

Patterson thanked Crystal Run for affording her the ability to do a good portion of the community work she does. She also thanked all the community members who are heroes.

“There are many out there,” she said. “I'm not sitting here proclaiming that I'm it, but there are a lot of unsung heroes.”

Patterson also said, on behalf of healthcare workers, that if you have the opportunity to get the vaccine, please do.

“Yes, we don't know everything there is to know about it. But it's what we have right now,” she said. “We've seen the turmoil and the tears and the frustration from everyone, but we need to at least be part of the solution. Continue to wear your mask, wash your hands and [practice] social distancing.”

You can listen to our full interview with Joan Patterson on our Sullivan County Democrat Podcast Channel. The episode drops tomorrow.

From her peers

Crystal Run Healthcare Chief Clinical Operations Officer Gaynor Rosenstein: “Joan is an accomplished nurse, leader and community advocate. She is a true advocate for our patients. She holds everyone around her to high standards of quality and service excellence, always looking to do better. It is a rare day that Joan is not called upon to help a patient in need. She is kind and always willing to do all she can to make their day a little easier. Joan is fun - whether it is organizing CRHC events, rallying friends and colleagues to participate in Relay for Life or jumping into frozen lakes in the middle of winter to combat Alzheimer's disease. She is always the first to volunteer and put her heart into whatever her cause may be. Her enthusiasm is infectious, and you can't help but go along for the ride.”

Greg Goldstein,President of the SullivanArc Foundation (the fundraising arm of The Arc Greater Hudson Valley): "Joan brings experience in health care and understands the needs of the folks that we help raise monies for. She is an intelligent and wonderful member of our board. "

Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Jaime Schmeiser: “I have had the honor of working and volunteering beside Joan and can say that her leadership, her tireless volunteer efforts, her insight, expertise and inspiration make her an awe-inspiring role model to all.”