Graduate School of Nursing student reflects on starting nursing school during pandemic Oscar de la Rosa helped with initial UMass Memorial DCU field hospital set up By Kylee Denesha May 10, 2021 Graduate School of Nursing student Oscar de la Rosa, who is enrolled in the Graduate Entry Pathway to Doctor in Nursing Practice program on the family nurse practitioner track, decided to pursue advanced practice nursing after working in public health and health care. In 2016, he earned a degree in public health at Worcester State University, while working as an emergency medical technician. He most recently served as a public health prevention specialist for the Worcester Division of Public Health, managing grants to prevent opioid abuse and supporting the work of the Central Massachusetts RegionaAl Public Health Alliance. His duties quickly changed during the summer of 2020, transitioning to a pandemic-focused role.