Tamar MacCallan-Finkelman
Masters Direct Entry ’25
It is always stimulating and challenging, the education is of the highest quality giving me the best preparation possible, and the seamless transition to DNP sets me up to pursue my long-term goal of becoming a nurse practitioner.
Please tell us a bit about yourself; where are you from, and what do you like to do in your spare time?
I grew up in Nyack, New York, about 20 miles up the Hudson from New York City. My first career always revolved around French and foreign language, working in translations, on French Alexa for Amazon, or teaching languages. It started when I went to NYU for my bachelor’s and earned a degree in French and linguistics with a minor in Hebrew and Judaic studies. Then I lived for time in Saguenay, Quebec, where I perfected my French, taught French and English, and began translating medical documents. Prior to attending university, I also went to acting school at the William Esper Studio and studied dance at Steps on Broadway, both in N.Y.C. Now in my free time I enjoy running, napping with my cat, skimming our pharmacology textbook, and working on the sweater I started knitting in 2015!
Why did you decide to pursue nursing, and why did you choose Columbia?
I was always interested in medicine and health care, which drew me to medical translation. I even took some human biology courses at a college in Quebec to improve my understanding of the concepts in French. Later on in 2021 I helped with the total care of my grandmother who was bedridden and suffered from Parkinson’s with dementia. That experience had a profound effect on me, opening the door to the spiritual experience of caring for those who are unable to care for themselves. I find that feeling translates even to strangers in the hospital, and I knew it would. I chose this program at Columbia because it’s accelerated allowing me to enter the workforce sooner, it’s intense so it is always stimulating and challenging, the education is of the highest quality giving me the best preparation possible, and the seamless transition to DNP sets me up to pursue my long-term goal of becoming a nurse practitioner.
What are you passionate about, and how has being a student at Columbia Nursing allowed you to follow that passion?
I am passionate about caring for geriatric populations and making sure that everyone can age with dignity in the manner that best suits them and their families. I am very drawn to this population and can’t wait to gain experience working with them in both acute and primary care. Columbia has helped me develop tools to follow this passion by teaching us about patient-centered advocacy, care coordination and both the science and art of nursing.
What are your next steps after graduation?
My first step is to work on a med-surg or oncology floor. I plan on returning to the FNP program after a year of experience on the floor, while continuing to work as much as is feasible.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I’m so excited to be a nurse and care for the sick and elderly. It’s a spiritual privilege to help people in such a vulnerable time and I wouldn’t trade it to do anything else. This program has helped me not only learn nursing as a science but also understand it as an art.