Each year, Nurses Week offers a meaningful opportunity to recognize the dedication, skill, and compassion that nurses bring to their work every single day. At ALS United Mid-Atlantic, this week holds special significance as we celebrate a group of professionals who stand at the forefront of care for individuals and families navigating the challenges of ALS.
Nurses are often the steady presence in an ever-changing journey. Our nurses provide more than clinical expertise, they offer reassurance, education, and compassion during some of life’s most difficult moments.
At ALS United Mid-Atlantic, our nurses play a vital role in multidisciplinary care. They collaborate closely with physicians, social workers, and caregivers to ensure that every person we serve receives personalized support. Whether they are guiding a newly diagnosed patient through next steps, helping manage symptoms, coordinating care, or simply listening, their impact is profound and lasting.
This Nurses Week, we are proud to highlight the incredible nurses who bring our mission to life every day.
Gail Houseman, RN, MSN-APRN has dedicated 25 years to ALS United Mid-Atlantic. As a Regional Nurse Coordinator, Gail works tirelessly to support people with ALS and their families, recognizing that this disease affects not only the individual but their entire support system. She helps families navigate both the physical and emotional aspects of ALS, providing education on medications, equipment, and care needs while offering steady, compassionate guidance.
Gail also plays an integral role in fostering connection and emotional support within our community. She promotes the Mindfulness Program and co-facilitates the Newly Diagnosed Support Group, creating safe spaces where individuals and families can share their experiences and learn from one another. Her impact extends even further through the Visiting Volunteer program, now in its 23rd year, which she leads by selecting and training volunteers who provide companionship, emotional support, and practical assistance. Through this work, Gail has helped build meaningful, lasting connections that enrich the lives of so many in the ALS community.
Shannon Scaletti, RN, BSN, is a nurse at the ALS Certified Treatment Center of Excellence at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. She joined ALS United Mid-Atlantic in 2023 as Clinic Coordinator, bringing with her a deeply personal perspective shaped by her experience as a hospice nurse early in her career.
In her reflection on caring for a patient named Steve, a beloved pastor, Shannon shares how that relationship shaped her understanding of ALS and continues to influence her approach to care. The connection she formed with Steve and his family reinforced the importance of dignity, presence, and emotional support in end-of-life care. She carries that experience forward in her work, supporting individuals and families with empathy, respect, and compassion.
Shannon’s journey reinforces the heart of ALS United Mid-Atlantic’s mission: providing compassionate, person-centered care rooted in connection. Her presence on the Hershey care team adds another layer of support for families navigating ALS.
Kerstie Keebaugh, RN, joined ALS United Mid-Atlantic in April 2023 and quickly became an essential part of the team at the ALS Certified Treatment Center of Excellence at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. She began her nursing career in 2011 and has been working as a registered nurse since 2019. Kerstie’s connection to ALS is deeply personal, after witnessing her Uncle Rob’s two-year battle with the disease, she was inspired to give back to the community that supported her family.
At the Hershey ALS Treatment Center, Kerstie helps ease the stress that often accompanies an ALS diagnosis. She ensures that people living with ALS and their families know they are never alone, serving as a constant point of contact and connecting them with critical resources. As part of a comprehensive care team, including neurologists, social workers, nutritionists, and mental health counselors, Kerstie helps deliver coordinated, patient-centered care. Her empathy, shaped by personal experience, allows her to support families with a unique depth of understanding and compassion.
Erin King, RN, joined ALS United Mid-Atlantic in April 2024 and has already made a meaningful impact in her role as a Staff Nurse. Her journey to ALS care was inspired by her close friendship with Kerstie Keebaugh and her firsthand experience supporting her during her uncle’s illness.
Before joining ALS United Mid-Atlantic, Erin spent six years as a heart and vascular bedside nurse. While she valued that experience, she was drawn to a role where she could build deeper, lasting connections with individuals and families. Today, she coordinates care across providers and services, arranges equipment and home support, and educates families about ALS and care planning. Erin is a trusted advocate and a steady presence, walking alongside families through every stage of the disease with compassion, understanding, and commitment.
Together, Gail, Shannon, Kerstie, and Erin represent the very best of nursing at ALS United Mid-Atlantic. Their expertise, empathy, and dedication make a profound difference in the lives of those we serve.
This Nurses Week, we celebrate not only their professional excellence but also their resilience and heart. Their work can be emotionally demanding, yet they continue to show up with unwavering commitment and compassion.
To our nurses: thank you for the care you provide, the trust you build, and the hope you bring to so many. You embody the mission of ALS United Mid-Atlantic and remind us that even in the face of a challenging disease, compassion and connection remain powerful forces.
Happy Nurses Week 2026!