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Collected Item: “Michael Levesque Oral History, 2021/03/14”

Title

Oral Interview with a healthcare provider-nurse

Who conducted the interview? List all names, separated by comma.

Matthew Williams

Who was interviewed? List all names, separated by commas.

Michael Levesque

Email Address(es) for all interviewers. Separated by comma.

m.williams@northeastern.edu

If this oral history is related to research conducted in association with an institution (e.g. a museum, university, library), please include the name of the institution. If you are a faculty member or student conducting research, please provide the name of your school.

Arizona State University

Use one-word hashtags (separated by commas) to describe your oral history. For example: Where did it originate? How does this object make you feel? How does this object relate to the pandemic?

paramedic, nurse, family, healthcare, emergency room

What is the format of your recording?

Audio

In what ZIP code is the primary residence of the interviewee? (enter 5-digit ZIP code; for example, 00544 or 94305)? In what city/town/village does the interviewee live? In what country does the interviewee live? All comma-separated.

02780

What is the gender of the interviewee? Be sure to allow interviewees to self-identify their gender in the pre-interview or interview. *Do not assign a gender identity to interviewees.*

Male

What is the age of the interviewee?

25 to 34

How does the interviewee describe their race or ethnicity? Be sure to allow interviewees to self-identify their race/ethnicity in the pre-interview or interview. *Do not assign a racial or ethnic identity to interviewees.*

White

Describe the oral history.

Abstract: Michael Levesque was a paramedic working on an ambulance at the start of the pandemic. He had a pregnant wife at home and was in the process of switching his career into nursing. He recalls the memories of working on the ambulance and taking care of Covid patients, as well as how Covid impacted the EMS services overall. He also discusses how it felt to be starting his career as an Emergency Room nurse during a global pandemic. In both cases, his job put him directly on the front lines of medicine. He discusses the early problems of lack of knowledge and equipment to properly handle this pandemic. He also explains the mindset of an expecting father, working in a high risk environment, and then coming home to his pregnant wife. Michael’s unique life circumstances and career path gives his interview a perspective that few people experienced.

On what date did you record this oral history?

2021-03-14
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