Nick Coan

I am nothing without the support of everyone I have met along the way, and Gwynedd Mercy University has been a huge part of that. To everyone from GMercyU that I have and did not have a chance to mention, thank you. I am forever grateful to be a Griffin.

Journey to GMercyU

Nick Coan graduated from Garnet Valley High School in 2008 and first heard about GMercyU through former Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach Dana Lindstrom. At the time, Coach Lindstrom was gathering members for the inaugural class for Fall 2008.

“Coach Lindstrom sold me the promise of becoming part of something special, and he more than fulfilled that promise,” Nick said.

Despite his desire to continue playing lacrosse, the ability to play is not what sold him on GMercyU.

“I would not have chosen GMercyU if not for my meetings with Dr. Michelle McEliece and Dr. Felicia Barbieri.

They sold me on the Biology program and their high percentage of acceptance pre-med candidates that matriculated into medical school,” Nick said.

Experience in Biology

In addition to earning his Bachelor of Science in Biology, Nick also graduated with minors in Chemistry and Psychology.

Dr. McEliece and Dr. Barbieri are not only responsible for persuading Nick to come to GMercyU, but also were his biggest influences in the classroom.

“Dr. McEliece was one of, if not, the most available professor on campus. She understood us as individuals, not a number in a lecture hall,” Nick recalled.

Dr. Barbieri was another influential figure in Nick’s life, and served as his advisor for his four years in the biology program.

“Where Dr. McEliece helped us to dream big, Dr. Barbieri was right there along the way to keep us focused on what we needed to accomplish to realistically reach our goals,” Nick said.

Early during his freshman year, Nick and Dr. Barbieri met to discuss his goals and formulated a plan to achieve them. Each year they met to have the same discussion, making sure the end goal remained the same.

Both professors were aware of Nick’s dream of attending medical school, rather than becoming a biologist or chemist. While they both taught such courses, they made sure Nick understood how the content would be of importance to his overall learning.

“I will always be grateful for all of the faculty in the biology department for their help throughout the year,” Nick said.

Involvement on Campus

Nick has the honor of being a member of the inaugural class of the Men’s Lacrosse Team and he served as Captain during his four years.

He was also on the President’s Council, worked as a Resident Assistant (RA) for three years, and was a member of Ping Pong Club.

“My favorite part of GMercyU was being part of the family atmosphere. GMercyU is a small campus and almost everyone knows everyone, especially if you live on campus,” Nick said.

Coach Lindstrom’s Influence

Nick’s biggest influence on campus came from outside of the classroom from Dana Lindstrom, who served as his coach for all four years.

Although the early years were tough, our bond grew through the flames of adversity on and off the field. Everything I achieved during my time at GMercyU and after is a direct reflection of his teachings and leadership.

Since graduating from GMercyU, Nick’s relationship with Lindstrom has shifted from player and coach to friends.

“I have seen him marry the love of his life and he has seen me do the same. It has been more than 14 years since he convinced me to go to GMercyU, and it remains one of the best decisions I have ever made. Thank you, coach, for everything you have and continue to do for me,” Nick said.

Post-Graduation

Nick graduated from GMercyU in 2012, and went on to attend the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM).

After graduating from PCOM in 2017, Nick completed his residency in Family Medicine at CarePoint Health in Jersey City and Bayonne, NJ. He eventually became Chief Resident and was working in the ICU at the start of the pandemic.

Nick passed the Family Medicine Boards, and worked as a Hospitalist (General Medicine Physician in Hospitals), where he traveled the U.S. as a COVID relief physician. Nick traveled and worked in New Jersey, South Carolina, and primarily Texas. In Texas, he worked at Texas Tech University Medical Center from November 2020 to April 2021.

He has since decided to complete a second residency in Emergency Medicine, and is currently in his second year at Jefferson New Jersey. He primarily treats the Jefferson Cherry Hill, Stratford, and Washington Township hospitals.

“I still work per diem as a hospitalist, but I am finally living out my dream of being an emergency medicine physician and could not be happier,” Nick said.

In June 2022, Nick married his wife Amanda.

“Her support has been unmeasurable. I do not know why she allowed me to go back to do a second residency, but I am eternally grateful she has chosen me to spend her life with,” Nick said.