About Suja Thomas

“I was drawn to nursing because of the unique blend of science and compassion it embodies.” said Suja Thomas, clinical lead at the Samuel S. Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, New York and president of the National Association of Indian Nurses in America. “Nursing also offers endless opportunities for learning and growth.”

And Thomas’s career — which spans patient care, nurse education, and advocacy — is a fantastic example of those endless opportunities within the nursing field, especially for nurses with graduate degrees.  

“My advanced degrees have helped me deepen my clinical knowledge and hone leadership skills,” continued Thomas, who earned a master’s in nursing at Russell Sage College in 2012 and a post-master’s certificate from RSC’s  adult gerontology nurse practitioner program in 2021. “My studies at RSC equipped me with the tools to take on more complex roles, including my current position at the VA, and leadership roles within NAINA.”

Thomas joined the VA as a nurse administrator in 2020, after serving in patient care and administrative positions at St. Peter’s Health Partners, also in the Albany area. She became clinical lead at the VA in 2023.

“My role involves training staff across critical care, acute care, long-term care, and primary care settings, ensuring they are well prepared to handle code situations and adhere to hospital policies and evidence-based practices,” she said. “I am passionate about mentoring nurses to advance their skills, ensuring that veterans receive the highest standard of care.”

She also devotes significant professional service to advocating for an inclusive, diverse, and supportive nursing workforce.

Thomas — who moved to the US from India in 1999 — wanted to create a network in Albany, where nurses of Indian heritage could grow professionally while also celebrating their cultural identity. She gathered interest from local Indian nurses, connected with the National Association of Indian Nurses in America, and drafted bylaws to establish an Albany chapter of the organization in 2016. 

At the same time, she took on leadership roles with the national organization’s executive board. She’s currently its national president and has led initiatives that amplify NAINA’s visibility and advocacy on behalf of Indian nurses. 

NAINA is now an organizational affiliate with the American Nurses Association and has partnered with the ANA on two Project Firstline grants to enhance its educational offerings on Infection Prevention. It obtained accreditation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, allowing it to offer continuing nursing education. NAINA welcomed new chapters in Virginia, the San Francisco Bay area, and Orlando, Florida; chapters in Sacramento, California, and McAllen, Texas, are coming soon. 

Thomas’s role as NAINA president has led to opportunities on the advisory boards for the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools Alliance for International Ethical Recruitment and the ANA’s Racial Reckoning Think Tank. These roles allow her to influence ethical recruitment practices for nurses globally and contribute to meaningful discussions about diversity and inclusion in nursing.

NAINA’s two major conferences during Thomas’s presidency — in Chicago, Illinois and in Albany, New York  — each attracted more than 250 nurses to sessions on clinical excellence, leadership, integrating research and technological advancements into nursing practice, and the role of nursing in promoting equity, advocacy, and innovation. 

Glenda Kelman, Ph.D., Russell Sage College chair of nursing, spoke at NAINA’s October 2024 Albany conference, and Russell Sage was one of the sponsors. Thomas said that RSC’s involvement reinforced NAINA’s commitment to advancing educational opportunities for its members.

“Russell Sage College has a strong reputation for nurturing leaders in healthcare, and its programs are designed to provide both academic rigor and practical application. The faculty’s expertise, combined with the supportive learning environment, was a major draw for me,” she continued, adding that NAINA has partnerships with eight academic institutions across the U.S. and is excited about the potential for a formal partnership with Russell Sage. 

“Our goal is to create pathways that provide our members with tuition discounts and other educational benefits. This partnership would empower Indian nurses to further their education and professional development, aligning with our mission to support and advocate for our community,” she said. “We look forward to exploring these opportunities for collaboration and fostering a strong relationship with RSC.” 

In addition to her degrees from RSC, Thomas is a certified instructor in Advanced Cardiac Life Support and a certified Wound, Ostomy, and Continence nurse specialist. She is pursuing a doctorate in nursing and her multiple professional honors include an award for excellence in nursing leadership from the Indian American Kerala Cultural and Civic Center, bestowed in October 2024. 

“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had through Russell Sage and NAINA to advance both my personal and professional growth,” she said. “I’m excited to continue working towards creating a more inclusive and supportive healthcare environment.”