Mother-Son duo are both on the frontline at Ascension Saint Thomas

Jean Joseph and his mom Marie Joseph are two different types of front line heroes at Ascension Saint Thomas West. Jean is an RN and Marie is a hospital cafeteria worker who sacrificed her nursing career back home in Haiti when she immigrated to the United States as a widow while her children were still small.

Though the move to Middle Tennessee was a culture shock for Marie, who primarily spoke French in Haiti, she settled into her new life with grace and courage. Today, Marie is known across the hospital for her bubbly spirit and her passion for making everyone she serves feel special every time they eat a meal on campus. Jean cites his mom as one of the reasons that he decided to pursue a career in healthcare. Perhaps it’s no surprise that one of Jean’s sisters also felt a call to nursing; she lives and works in Florida.