elishah@nmsu.edu 
575-646-3972
HSS 239

Elishah Fitzgerald began her journey in healthcare at age 17, earning a basic EMT certification and laying the foundation for a career defined by rapid clinical growth and a commitment to public health. By age 19, she graduated from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine’s Paramedic Program. While working full-time as a technician at a local hospital, she pursued further academic studies at New Mexico State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Transitioning into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as a registered nurse, Elishah developed an interest in managing complex critical care cases and found her passion there. She later served as a Charge Nurse for three years during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This period of intense leadership solidified her dedication to evidence-based practice and instilled a habit of constant inquiry—always asking "why" to ensure the highest standards of patient safety and care.

Elishah believes that nursing at its core must encompass the fullness of the human experience. Her philosophy is rooted in a holistic approach that sees beyond the clinical diagnosis to the person behind it.

She empowers her students to pair technical mastery with a compassionate spirit, ensuring they provide care that is as medically rigorous as it is deeply human.