Film Shines Light on Filipino Nurses’ Contributions to U.S. Health Care
It’s so rare to see our community and our experiences highlighted on the big screen…We wanted to let the world know what Filipino nurses went through [during the pandemic] in order to better support them.
Michele Josue , director, producer and lead editor of “Nurse Unseen"
The Columbia University School of Nursing and Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) community trickled into Alumni Auditorium on May 2, 2024, to watch an important story for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month---the unsung Filipino nurse.
During the pandemic, Filipino nurses were among those most affected by the virus, risking their lives on frontlines to care for the sick. Even though they make up only 4% of the U.S. nursing population, more than 30% of COVID-19 nurse deaths were Filipino. Their involvement during that crisis isn’t the only example of their contributions to the health industry; Filipino nurses have been part of the U.S. nursing workforce since the 1960s, providing unwavering support through difficult sacrifices. Powerful historical vignettes from nurses, family members, colleagues, and community activists filled the Nurse Unseen documentary, helping viewers understand the Filipino community’s resiliency.
The film screening, put together by Columbia University School of Nursing’s Office of Diversity & Cultural Affairs, the Asian Nursing Students at Columbia, and CUIMC AAPI Employee Resource Group, gave students, faculty, staff, and the public the opportunity to engage thoughtfully with important themes that are vital to understanding and celebrating AAPI history. After the screening, director, producer and lead editor Michele Josue and producer Carlo Velayo described why they developed this passion project in a discussion with Isper Crissey, PhD, a registered nurse and an assistant professor at Columbia Nursing.
“We’re hoping that when the Filipino community and the nursing community sees this film, it will inspire and empower them to stand up for what they believe in,” Josue said.
