Mary Ellen Garofalo, MSN, RN, CRRN, SPHR

Mary Ellen Garofalo is an integrative health nurse, coach and talent optimization consultant. She has held leadership positions in healthcare and human resources in manufacturing, construction, and the baking industry. In her current role, she is a Certified Talent Optimization Consultant, educator, speaker and designs and facilitates integrative health and well-being programs.  

She was the Director of the Transitional Care Program for a national home health care company. She led an engaged team of nurse managers in nine states, transitioning catastrophically ill and injured adults and children from hospitals to live at home for ongoing nursing care. The program was developed through strong, long term relationships, strategic account management, rehabilitative knowledge and clinical management in conjunction with patient and family centered care. 

Mary Ellen has nursing experience in rehabilitation, home health care, case management, complex patient management and integrative nursing. When human beings experience injury, illness, trauma or stress, Mary Ellen’s passion is to empower them to unleash their own energy. Through problem solving, her positive “can do” spirit, humor and respect, she motivates clients with life changing circumstances to refocus, and leverage their strengths to move forward in life.

As a speaker, Mary Ellen writes and presents a large variety of webinars and educational programs for health care, talent optimization, human resources, well-being and stress management. She can teach difficult subjects with humor, create enthusiasm and empower people to face their challenges with confidence. She is known for her dynamic meetings and unforgettable retreats. Mary Ellen has been a speaker for Case Management Society of America, Association of Rehabilitation Nurses, well known insurance companies and hospitals, and the Society for Human Resource Professionals.   

Her educational background includes an MS in Nursing Leadership from Excelsior College, and a BA from Bloomfield College where she studied nursing and sociology. She holds an ASN from Regents College. She is a Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse, and Senior Professional Human Resource Leader. She attended Multiple Sclerosis Advanced Nurses Training through the NY National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Management of Complex Medical Conditions and Catastrophic Injuries through Paradigm Health, and Strictly Business Immersion through Dale Carnegie. 

Mary Ellen is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Association of Rehabilitation Nurses, Society for Human Resource Management, and She has published articles for Nursing Spectrum, NY/NJ; Advance for Nurses, Northeast, and the Massachusetts Group Health Insurance Magazine.

Testimonial

"Mary Ellen has practiced nursing, managed nurses and aides in home health care environments for people with serious health issues, and grappled with the red tape, politics, and procedures that are part of corporate life.  She sees things from so many sides -- the patient, their family, the health care providers, and the organizations that provide health care whether hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, or corporations that oversee all of this.  She has the ability to show caring and compassion and simultaneously to resolve the myriad of problems faced by patients and their families who find themselves in uncharted waters."

Jamie Chesman

Parent of Patient 

Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation