Hamilton resident Robyn D’Oria has a personal tie to March of Dimes’ mission to help premature babies.
She was one of three children in her immediate family to be born prematurely. Her brother died due to being an “extreme premature baby.” Both of D’Oria’s children were born premature. Even her grandmother was born prematurely, back in 1900.
So, when March of Dimes approached her to serve as the honorary chair for the 11th Annual New Jersey Nurse of the Year Awards, D’Oria couldn’t pass up the offer.
The event will take place on Nov. 16 in Edison to honor nurses nominated from across the state in over a dozen different categories. D’Oria’s job for the award ceremony is to help design the event, choose nominees for the awards and gain sponsors.
“Robyn has been a huge help since the beginning, so she was the obvious choice this year,” said Monica Santos, development manager for March of Dimes Organization.
But how exactly did she get started in the field?
“I’ve been a nurse forever—and I’ve always wanted to be a nurse forever,” D’Oria said.
The Bergen County native moved to Essex County for college at Seton Hall, where she studied nursing and met her husband, Joe. She then commuted from New Jersey to New York University for her master’s in nursing. It was then, in 1985, that she moved to her husband’s hometown, Hamilton.
“I’ve always been interested in (pediatric nursing). In school I worked in the unit, but in grad school, pediatric nursing wasn’t allowed, so the next best thing was maternity,” D’Oria said.
With that, she began working nightshifts in a maternity ward in Westwood, Bergen County.
Throughout her career, she has taught and worked as a clinical nurse at various hospitals and baccalaureate and associate degree programs. She’s also had an array of titles throughout her career, including perinatal clinical nurse specialist and director of women’s and children’s services at Princeton Hospital.
‘I truly couldn’t go a day without doing what I do.’
In 2002, she left Princeton and became the executive director of the public health initiative Central Jersey Family Health Consortium. The not-for-profit agency is a “regionalized network of agencies and providers involved in the delivery of perinatal and pediatric services” in Central Jersey.
“When I took this job I was looking for a job with more flexible hours,” D’Oria said. “My kids were getting older and I spent so many nights always on call that I wanted to enjoy all the time I could with my family.”
When she began at CJFHC, there were 25 employees. Now, there are more than 100 employees, with four offices across Central New Jersey.
“I enjoy this because a lot of health care initiatives have moved out of the community, especially when it comes to women and children’s health,” D’Oria said. “We haven’t.”
Throughout all of this, D’Oria has been active in the March of Dimes community. Back in 1985, when she was teaching at Mercer County Community College, the organization was looking for volunteers to help set up their annual March for Babies Walk.
“It certainly was a personal thing why I joined,” D’Oria said. “Originally, I did it as a professional thing, but I always had that personal draw to the organization. It effects more people than we know.”
Throughout her three decades as a volunteer for the New Jersey chapter, D’Oria has served as the chair of the Program Services Committee, been on the board and has served as a full-time member of the organization.
“I honestly don’t think there’s anyone that doesn’t know of someone that hasn’t been affected by early childbirth,” she said.
She also loves the local tie to the organization. The majority of money raised from the annual walks and throughout the year at different fundraisers goes towards research. D’Oria loves how that can help “a mother having her child at Robert Wood Johnson.”
Along with her chair position at this year’s Nurse of the Year Awards, D’Oria continues to serve on the Board of Trustees for the North Central N.J. Market and the N.J. Section chair for the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, and contributes as a member of the American College of Obstetrician/Gynecologists for the Alliance for Innovation in Maternal Health.
To D’Oria, though, the most important title she holds is “Mom.” Joe, 28, and Alyssa, 25, both graduated from Steinert High School, and have been among D’Oria’s biggest supporters.
“Since before they could walk I had them with me at every March for Babies walk,” D’Oria said. “It really has become a family affair for us.”
D’Oria credits her husband, Joe, for being able to continue thriving in her career.
“I credit all my success to my incredibly supportive family,” she said. “My husband has been there for me both professionally and personally—getting the kids where they need to go when I was working all those hours and making sure I was always doing well.”
And when she’s taking a moment to relax from work she enjoys heading down the shore, golfing and just being outside.
But, mostly, she continues to dedicate her life to helping prevent birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.
“I do what I do because I really love it…Work is so near and dear to my heart,” D’Oria said. “I truly couldn’t go a day without doing what I do.”
March of Dimes has named Hamilton resident Robyn D’Oria honorary chair for the 11th Annual Nurse of the Year Awards.,
