From the front lines of Afghanistan to the forefront of patient care at Boston Medical Center (BMC), nurse practitioner Charlene Sylvestre has dedicated her life to serving others. A 22-year U.S. Air Force nurse veteran, Sylvestre brings her vast experience to help adults living with sickle cell disease through expert, empathetic, and innovative care. Her journey reflects resilience, compassion, and a commitment to making a global impact.
We had the privilege of speaking with Sylvestre to learn more about the passion that drives her work and the wisdom she passes down to other people in her field.
1. What brought you to Boston Medical Center?
In my past life, I was a licensed clinical social worker (LICSW). I enjoyed the work, but I often felt like I wanted to do more with people. That led me to go back to school to become a nurse. After that, I joined the military.
As a military nurse, I worked in areas I might not have otherwise explored, like end-stage renal disease and hyperbaric medicine. I spent six months in Afghanistan and later deployed to Germany, where I worked on medical evacuations—meeting planes and transferring patients to hospitals, or vice versa.
After my tenure as active-duty military, I pursued my nurse practitioner (NP) certification. At the time, I was certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner and practiced in this setting in California, Maine, and Massachusetts. After 13 years in this field, I wanted to do something different. I saw an ad for a nurse practitioner at BMC under Dr. Elizabeth Klings, working with patients with sickle cell disease, and I was intrigued by the work.
2. What aspect of your role gives you the most satisfaction?
I love the resourcefulness and camaraderie here. Everyone is focused on providing the best care possible, even for patients with limited resources.
I see patients both when they’re at their sickest in the hospital and when they’re doing relatively well in outpatient care. My background as a social worker helps me appreciate that continuity of care, and I love the diversity of patients here. In sickle cell care, having a strong social work team is critical. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the impact of those support systems on our patients.
3. What is the proudest moment of your career?
One moment that stands out is when I gave a talk about caring for adults with sickle cell disease. That led to my involvement in the Sickle Cell Boot Camp, run by Saint Jude’s Hospital. This program brings nurses from around the world to learn about sickle cell care. I’m incredibly proud to be part of that. We recently took the Boot Camp to Brazil, training local nurses to become trainers themselves. It’s amazing to be part of something with such a lasting impact.
4. How do you disconnect from work and recharge?
Exercise is my go-to. Rowing, running — even when I don’t feel like it, I always feel better afterward. I also have two therapy dogs, Nellie and Bitsy, who are part of the BMC family under the Healing Pups program. They bring so much joy to patients and staff. I started with Nellie, my Chihuahua, who has a very calm, friendly demeanor—perfect for therapy work. Bitsy joined us more recently. There’s nothing better than seeing how patients light up when they meet the dogs. I’ve seen patients cry tears of joy because the dogs brought them so much comfort.
5. What lessons have you learned from your patients?
Take the time to understand who your patients are—their culture, background, and needs. Building that relationship is essential. When I started at BMC, many sickle cell patients were wary of new providers. Earning their trust took time, but it’s crucial.
