SUNA Spotlight: Patrick DiMeo

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Patrick DiMeo is the biggest sports enthusiast and he’ll be the first to tell you that background comes in handy as a registered nurse.

Patrick is currently at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center- James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute as the Program Manager for the Center of Robotic Surgery. He oversees the Post Robotic Prostatectomy ED Rehab Program under Dr. Vipul Patel and also sees men with ED after prostate cancer as well.  

A Buckeye alum (BSN, 1989), Patrick has never strayed too far from home as it relates to nursing.

“After graduating, I have always worked at Ohio State and The James,” Patrick says. “I worked as a staff nurse on a surgical oncology floor for nine years. Then I worked in Nursing Staff Development for seven years before my current position which will be one full year in January 2007. Since 2000, I have seen men with erectile dysfunction with urologists at Ohio State. When Dr. Patel came in the fall of 2005, I then became full time with our ED rehab program. I have also facilitated a prostate cancer support group at The James since 1991.”

Patrick joined SUNA a nearly six years ago after deciding on a permanent career route.

“I joined SUNA in 2001 because I knew that I was going to focus my career on urologic oncology and wanted to learn more info from experts around the country,” he said. “Living in another state can be challenging to be actively involved, but I hope to correspond with others via email or at conferences. I just published my first article in Urologic Nursing and hope to have a few more as time goes on.

“SUNA has helped me learn more about urologic nursing to help the patient. Urologic nursing is a wonderful source and provides so much valuable information to others. It also has given myself more knowledge and confidence to help the patient in guiding them with their needs.”

Patrick said he chose urologic nursing at the suggestion of his nurse manager at The James back in 1991.

“My nurse manager asked me to help with a prostate cancer support group because I was male and they needed someone in that capacity to assist,” Patrick remembered. “I was young and naive and agreed. Well, I am so thankful that they did because it was a start of a career path that I did not know where it would take me. I always liked the urology patients on the surgical oncology floor that I worked on. As time went on, I took it upon myself to learn more about the urologic procedures. I would be a speaker on the urologic cancers for new oncology nurses at the hospital. I got to know the urologists very well and developed wonderful professional relationships with them and the residents. The Chief of Urology at Ohio State is the one who thought I would work well with ED patients and asked me to assist him and that is how I got into the ED aspect of urologic nursing.”

Married to wife, Amy, since August 2000, the two have actually known each other since 1990 when she worked as a nurses aide before nursing school. 

“Our relationship was on-off during the entire 1990s until I wised up and asked her to marry me in June 1999,” quipped Patrick.

Amy is a pediatric nurse who worked in the NICU and pediatric clinical trials at Children's Hospital in Columbus until the couple’s oldest son, Giuseppe (Joey), was born in Sept. 2002. Another son, Luca, was born in July 2004.  The family lives in Lewis Center, a suburb of Columbus.

Beyond that, Patrick’s upbringing is a story in itself.

“I was born in Rome, Italy, and am adopted,” noted Patrick. “I came over to the United States at eight months old and my parents are/were my heroes. They have both died since then, but Joey's birthday is the same day as my Dad's the year he died. I grew up in Mingo Junction, a very small town in eastern Ohio on the Ohio River about 40 miles west of Pittsburgh.”

On a personal level, Patrick is an avid sports fan.

“Growing up I was and still am a Pittsburgh fan (NFL’s Steelers and MLB’s Pirates). College-wise, I am a HUGE Ohio State fan who has season tickets to both football and basketball. Amy and I have been to the Rose Bowl and Fiesta Bowl and will be in Glendale (Ariz.) for this year's National Championship game (on Jan. 8 vs. Florida).

“Playing sports growing up taught me about hard work, teamwork and passion and I have been able to apply that to my professional career. I enjoy yard work and when able the socialization and camaraderie of male friendships.”

With all that he does, one has to wonder when Patrick finds time to sleep!