Photo submitted to the Times Observer Lisa Siliano is pictured with her son, Rocco, shadowing her at Warren General Hospital.

Editor’s Note: This article is part of the “Meet Your Neighbor Monday” series, highlighting the stories of individuals who make Warren County a special place to live. If you have a suggestion for a person to profile, email jrex@timesobserver.com or dchase@timesobserver.com.

After nearly three decades of providing compassionate care for new mothers and infants, Warren County native Lisa Siliano is stepping into a new phase of her nursing career.

At the same time, she continues to play an important role in encouraging and inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals. And some are following in her footsteps even closer than she once imagined.

Siliano, a lifelong resident of Warren, said her path into healthcare was clear at an early age.

I told people I wanted to be a nurse starting in grade school,” said Siliano, reflecting on the early sense of purpose that would eventually guide her career.

Siliano completed her nursing degree in 1997, and has worked in the maternity ward at Warren General Hospital for 25 years. She became a familiar and trusted presence for countless families, helping guide them through some of the most meaningful and emotional moments of their lives. Her work focused on supporting mothers and welcoming newborns.

Recent changes in the hospital have led Siliano to consider a new direction. Wanting to remain in the facility and serve her community, she took the opportunity to explore other departments. After briefly shadowing several departments of the hospital to better understand where she might fit, Siliano ultimately made the shift to a position in the emergency room.

“It’s been a big transition,” Siliano said.” Most of my patients in maternity were healthy. In the ER, everyone who comes in is there because something is wrong. But I still try to bring the same positive energy to make people feel comfortable.

While the pace and nature of the work are different, Siliano said she remains committed to providing the same level of care and compassion that defined her time in maternity.

She acknowledged that adapting to the fast-moving, unpredictable environment of the emergency room has taken time, but she finds the work deeply meaningful.

While Siliano has faced many changes, one constant remains the same, her strong connection to the community she serves.

“I know so many people who come through those doors,” said Siliano.

That same sense of community has shaped her life beyond the hospital as well. Warren General Hospital is not only where she has built her career, but also where she experienced some of her own important family moments. Siliano had her three children at the same hospital where she has spent so many years caring for others.

Now, she is watching her son Rocco prepare to begin a journey of his own in the medical field. Rocco is set to attend the University of Pittsburgh this fall, where he plans to pursue a pre-med track with the goal of becoming an orthopedic surgeon.

Siliano believes her career had a strong influence in his decision to follow a similar path.

“He’s grown up knowing what I do and hearing my stories,” Siliano said. “He just wanted to take it a step further.”

Earlier this year, the two shared a unique and memorable experience that brought their interests in medicine even closer together. On the same day that Siliano was shadowing in the hospital’s operating room as part of her transition, Rocco was also at the hospital, observing an orthopedic surgeon through a job-shadowing opportunity of his own.

The experience offered him valuable insight into both patient care and the realities of surgery. It also included a moment that highlighted just how intense the medical field can be.

“He got a little woozy during the knee replacement,” Siliano said. “But we gave him a little orange juice and he was fine for the rest of the day.”

For Siliano, experiences like that show the benefits of living and working in a close-knit community. It has allowed her to connect professional opportunities with personal experiences, and to see her own child begin carving a path in healthcare.