Nazareth Health and Counseling Director Susan Quinn is a RBJ 2025 Health Care Heroes recipient
She exemplifies excellence in health care leadership, innovation, and compassionate service and dedicates herself to the well-being of each student at Nazareth University. The Rochester Business Journal named Nazareth’s Director of Health and Counseling Susan Quinn a 2025 Health Care Heroes recipient. Quinn, who is a board-certified family nurse practitioner, was honored in the Advanced Practice Provider category. The award honors the efforts of individuals and organizations making a significant impact on the quality of health care in the Rochester area.
“Susan’s profound impact on our campus community and beyond makes her a deserving candidate for this prestigious recognition,” said Kim Harvey, Nazareth’s associate provost and dean of students. “She supervises a multidisciplinary team of professionals while providing exceptional direct care to our students. Her approach to health care is both holistic and inclusive, addressing the physical and mental health needs of young adults, including those from marginalized backgrounds.”
Quinn is credited with playing a pivotal leadership role at Nazareth during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was a key member of the Pandemic Response Team (PRT), and championed rigorous safety measures, coordinated comprehensive testing, and organized large-scale vaccination clinics and testing for our community. Her leadership enabled Nazareth to be named one of “30 US Colleges that handled the Crises of 2020 well,” earning national recognition for its expert response.
Her visionary efforts have enhanced campus-wide mental health initiatives. Her leadership and support of her team was instrumental in securing a $300,000 federal grant for the Mental Health Awareness Across Campus (MHAAC) project, a groundbreaking initiative that places Nazareth among an elite group of 22 institutions nationwide awarded this funding. Quinn serves as a member of Nazareth’s Well-Being Collective, an interdisciplinary group dedicated to fostering a culture of health and resilience. Through this initiative, she is guiding Nazareth’s efforts to become a JED Campus, focusing on suicide prevention and substance abuse reduction.
“Susan’s passion for people is palpable in everything she does. Whether she’s providing direct medical care to a student navigating their first independent health decisions or mentoring her team with steady guidance and encouragement, she approaches every interaction with warmth and a genuine desire to uplift others,” said Damika Arnold, Nazareth’s chief people officer. “Her goal is never just to treat the symptoms of illness but to ensure that every individual she encounters feels heard, valued, and empowered.”
“The 2025 Health Care Heroes go above and beyond to improve the quality of health care in the Greater Rochester area. They work tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of others and demonstrate strong empathy, compassion, and listening skills,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, managing director of BridgeTower Media/Rochester Business Journal.
The RBJ Health Care Heroes will be recognized at a breakfast celebration on Feb. 27 at the Hyatt Regency Rochester.
For More Information
Julie Long | Chief PR Officer | jlong2@naz.edu | (585) 389-2456 | (585) 781-8186 (cell)
Nazareth University is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for nearly 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a Nazareth education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.
Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, Nazareth University graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.
