Nurses are the backbone of our health care system. From lending an empathetic ear to administering medications to sitting with us when it feels like the world is falling down around us, they are there—making us feel human while seeming superhuman themselves. The nurses within these pages are the ones you nominated for their lasting influence, and they are truly the champions of our West Virginia centers of care. Read their stories, discover what inspires them, and be inspired yourself.

Lesley White

RN St. George Medical Clinic and WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital Specialty: Pediatrics

As Lesley White was growing up, she wanted to be a lawyer. Between high-profile court cases in the 1990s and her love of a good argument, it seemed like the perfect career. But as she saw her parents and grandparents growing older, she wanted another path for herself.

“You think about your parents being in the hospital or your grandparents being in hospice care, and you want them to have the best care possible,” White says. “I knew I could make a difference, by simply offering a smile or asking someone how they are—by going the extra mile.”

After becoming a licensed practical nurse, White worked first at St. George Medical Clinic, then at Cortland Acres in long term care. After four years, she worked in obstetrics and gynecology at Davis Medical Center, where she became lead nurse of the outlying clinics.

Many health care professionals found the COVID-19 pandemic overwhelming, but White saw the opportunity to be a community leader. She worked at drive thru clinics, seeing roughly 140 patients a day, rain or shine. She also volunteered at vaccine clinics, easing patient fears about the unknowns of the pandemic.

White furthered her education in May 2023 by becoming a registered nurse. She now works at a school-based clinic for St. George, as well as with WVU Medicine Children’s hospital as a PICU nurse.

White and her husband, Kevin, have a 15-year-old daughter, Rylee, and an 11-yearold son, Devin, both of whom are active in sports. Whether volunteering at the concession stands at their sporting events or providing top-notch health care, White always adheres to The Golden Rule. “I’m a team player and, if you need help, I’ll help you. I just hope someone would do the same for me.”

“I knew I could make a difference, by simply offering a smile or asking someone how they are—by going the extra mile.”

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