Updated 6-12-20:
Welcome home! SMWC assistant professor of nursing Richard Clapp, who was deployed to the epicenter of the nation’s COVID-19 crisis since the beginning of April, returned home to his family this week.
Clapp, who was mid-semester in his first year of teaching at The Woods, was called to serve the United States Naval Reserves in New York City the beginning of April to augment the nursing staff. Providing relief to those on the front line and working directly with COVID-19 positive patients, Clapp said he was where he needed to be for his country.
While being deployed, Clapp continued to teach his Woods classes online without interruption and completed a doctorate in nursing practice degree (DNP) from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville. Congratulations Dr. Clapp!
By Karen Dyer, vice president for advancement and strategic initiatives at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
When faced with being deployed to the epicenter of the nation’s COVID-19 crisis, Richard Clapp, assistant professor of nursing at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC), said he was ready.
Clapp, who was mid-semester in his first year of teaching at The Woods, was called to serve the United States Naval Reserves at an undisclosed hospital in New York City the beginning of April to augment the nursing staff, providing relief to those on the front line.
Working directly with COVID-19 positive patients, Clapp said that he is where he needs to be for his country and that he is not afraid.
“It’s a city that is really struggling,” said Clapp, who believes dealing with the disease is not the hardest part of this pandemic, “It’s everything else. There are no families in the hospital. You have to wear personal protective equipment all the time. That’s the challenge.”
With 18 years of nursing experience, Clapp, a nurse practitioner and hospitalist at Union Hospital in Terre Haute, Indiana, and Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon, Illinois, joined the reserves in 2010, something he had long wanted to do since the 9/11 attacks on the United States. In 2015, Clapp was deployed to Afghanistan. He currently has the rank of Lt. Commander.
Clapp is among the estimated 1,110 service members currently serving in New York, the largest and most densely populated city in the nation, one of the hardest hit by the disease with more than 130,000 reported COVID-19 cases according to the NYC.gov website.
“Whether it’s a war zone or a pandemic, whatever the Navy needs us to do… you are going where other people don’t want to go,” he explained. “Part of my commitment to the Navy Reserves is to always be ready to go anytime for anything. I was prepared for this.”
For Clapp, there is little downtime during his deployment. In between shifts at the hospital, Clapp teaches his online class, NU 528, Clinical Research and Diagnostics, a graduate level course at The Woods. He is also working to complete a doctorate in nursing practice degree (DNP) and will graduate virtually in May from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville.
“Some of my students have reached out to me, sending emails and wishing me best of luck,” he said, adding that he hopes that his students’ interactions with him as a professor working on the front line will make them even more committed to their profession once they graduate.
“As nursing professionals,” he added, “we go to work when people need us the most, which often draws people to serve in our profession.”
If there is a reward to his work, it is in knowing that he is supported by his family, friends, students and colleagues, noting that it meant much to him to have the full support of the College and especially the support of the administration – Dr. Felicia Stewart, Dr. Marcia Miller, Dr. Janet Clark and President Dottie King.
Clapp said that there has been a great outpouring of support as citizens of New York open their windows at 7 p.m. each night to cheer healthcare workers and all those working on the front line.
“My wife is amazing and everyone – my kids, family and community – are so supportive. We also have a strong belief in God,” he said, noting that he and his wife, Nicole, are expecting their fourth child in October. He added that his wife is a vital part of their shared military life, managing the home front.
“I may be here alone, but I never feel alone.” he said.