BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – Mary Belt ‘13 pivoted her nursing career to the skies and has spent the last four years as a part-time flight nurse for HealthNet Aeromedical Services. 

HealthNet has eight aeromedical bases in West Virginia – Morgantown, Millwood, Huntington, Beckley, Buckhannon, Martinsburg, Lewisburg, and Moundsville. Healthnet’s headquarters is located in Charleston, West Virginia. 

Belt was introduced to the flight nursing career during her sophomore year of high school. She was a part of HOSA, a health care club her school offered when she was assigned a project to present a unique career in the medical field. Through her research, she found flight nursing and knew what she wanted to do for a career. 

After obtaining her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at West Virginia Wesleyan College, Belt moved to Morgantown and started her nursing career at Ruby Memorial Hospital, working in Orthopedics and then the Emergency Department. 

In 2019, after two years of travel nursing, Belt returned to Morgantown when HealthNet was offering a critical care transport class, a requirement for flight nursing. After she completed the course, she interviewed and was shocked when she received a call, offering her the job. Belt states, “I still have to pinch myself that this is my career.”

Belt stated, “Some of the memorable experiences are going and talking with elementary school students and the looks on their faces when we fly in or just little kids in the parking lot who are in awe of you and your career. Makes you really step back and realize how special this career is and to not take it for granted. Being a flight nurse and even a registered nurse is truly so rewarding.”

Belt’s favorite quote: “When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with eyes turned skyward. For there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” – Leonardo Da Vinci 

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts and sciences college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2023 Best Colleges in the Southeastern Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan seventh in Best Value – Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students nearly 60 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, nursing and clinical mental health counseling; 21 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 50 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu.