Mohawk College Nursing graduate Serafina Nicosia was instrumental in establishing Canada's first Coordinated Spine Unit at Hamilton Health Sciences. As an Advanced Practice Nurse on the Coordinated Spine Unit within the hospital's Neuroscience and Trauma Program, Sera provides comprehensive care, support and advocacy for patients and families who have suffered life-changing spinal cord injuries.

Each year, Sera helps approximately 200 patients newly diagnosed with quadriplegia or paraplegia through their recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration into the community. Sera's role on the Coordinated Spine Unit includes clinical leadership, education, research and change management. Sera also identifies gaps in patient services, develops assessment tools and educational materials for her colleagues and health professionals and leads inter-professional clinical rounds on the unit.

Prior to helping establish the Coordinated Spine Unit, Sera was the lead coordinator in a provincial project to test a model of region-wide stroke care. Project findings were incorporated into the Ontario Stroke Strategy that revolutionized stroke care in Ontario and Canada.

A born educator, Sera has served as an instructor at Mohawk, Sheridan and Niagara Colleges. Sera's commitment to patients and families was recently recognized with a Health Professional of the Year award from the Ontario chapter of the Canadian Paraplegic Association.