For Melvin "Mel" Seay, Father's Day is a reminder that some of life's most meaningful accomplishments happen beyond the workplace.
As a Critical Care Paramedic in the Neuro Trauma Intensive Care Unit (NTICU) at LewisGale Medical Center, Mel has spent decades caring for patients and serving his community. Together, Mel and his wife raised their children to find work that feels meaningful and rewarding. Today, both have chosen careers in healthcare, something that makes Mel especially proud.
His son, Jacob Seay, is attending Galen College of Nursing alongside him, creating a unique father-son journey toward nursing licensure. His daughter, Michaela Seay, is also building a career in healthcare as she works toward her paramedic certification. Together, they reflect the influence one healthcare career can have across generations.
"I have two children and both are following in my footsteps," Mel said. "It must be something tied to my genes because both of my children share that same passion. They share the drive to provide good quality care, to grow with knowledge and provide better outcomes for the patients we encounter every day."
For Mel, what makes their career choices special is that he never pushed either of them toward healthcare. Instead, he encouraged them to find work that gave them purpose.
"I have always advised my children to choose a career that is rewarding and that you look forward to going to every day," he said. "They watched me go to work every day without complaint because I was passionate about my profession."
Mel has worked at LewisGale Medical Center for 28 years, including 25 years in the emergency department and the past three years in the NTICU. Years of watching their father head to work each day helped shape how both children viewed their own futures.
Jacob graduated from Roanoke College in 2020 with a bachelor's degree in biochemistry and is now attending Galen College of Nursing alongside his father. The pair are working toward Associate Degrees in Nursing and hope to celebrate earning their nursing licensure together.
"We believed it would be wonderful to achieve our nursing licensure as father and son," Mel said.
While Jacob is sharing the classroom experience with his father, Michaela is charting her own path toward becoming a paramedic, continuing the family's connection to patient care. Mel is equally proud to see both of his children pursuing careers in healthcare.
For Mel, sharing the classroom experience with his son has made the journey even more meaningful.
"I was overjoyed that he was going to further his education in the medical field," he said. "I know my son is going to make positive impacts in the medical field because of his intelligent mind and his drive to make a difference. I will be there right beside him."