Meet the Staff: Casey Wollenberg, MSN, RN

Casey Wollenberg, MSN, RN, a nurse practitioner and lung transplant coordinator with the USC Transplant Institute, part of Keck Medicine of USC, assists patients from the moment they get evaluated for lung transplant and throughout their post-transplant lives.

What does your job entail?

I help patients during their transplant evaluation process, pre-transplant and after transplant. Before transplant, I monitor the progression of their disease and readiness for transplant, helping them optimize any issues that might affect their success.

After transplant, I help the patient with the protocol for immunosuppression and any complications that may arise. I also make medication adjustments and order and review diagnostic tests.

What excites you about your work?

The complexity of the medicine and the patients. Throughout my career, I have felt incredibly privileged to be one of the people who witnesses patients at their most vulnerable, and many times, at their most successful.

Patient care needs to be patient-centered. We can’t make anything algorithmic because each patient and their experience is unique, including their medical issues, disease characteristics, support system and psychosocial needs. As a nurse practitioner, I can take more time to answer a patient’s questions and give thorough education to ensure their success.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

When I’m not taking care of people, I’m taking care of animals. I have a lot of pets. I also love learning. I like to study different languages and my ethnic heritage and background. I read anything I can get my hands on.

Topics

Mollie Barnes

Mollie Barnes is a senior writer for Keck Medicine of USC.

Share

FacebookPostLinkedIn