For the Love of the Cape
Pictured: Hannah Ouimet, FNP-C, and Helen Price, NP, both 2009 Falmouth High School graduates, have known each other since kindergarten. They now work side by side at Falmouth Hospital Medical Center at Bramblebush.
Meet the Falmouth High School Classes of ’08 and ’09: Hannah Ouimet, FNP-C; Helen Price, NP; Brittany Dory, FNP-BC; Kelsey Rigby, MD; and Rachel Hutchinson, RN. Each has a unique healthcare journey with a common mission—giving back and caring for the community that helped shape them.
Leaving Home to Find Her Way Back
Hannah Ouimet, FNP-C
Falmouth Hospital Medical Center Clinic at Bramblebush
“I would encourage them to have different experiences, work with unfamiliar populations and then come back,” says Hannah. “There’s nothing more valuable than experiencing life outside of your comfort zone.”
That’s exactly the path Hannah took. After graduating from Falmouth High School in 2009, she pursued a Bachelor of Science in Public Health at Southern Connecticut State University. Initially drawn to epidemiology, she later realized her passion lay in direct patient care, leading her to earn an associate’s degree in nursing from Cape Cod Community College, a BSN from the University of Rhode Island, and an MSN from Chamberlain University in Chicago.
Her nursing career took her to Rhode Island and Boston, but in 2021, she returned to Falmouth Hospital’s Emergency Department. Last November, she transitioned into her current role as a Hospitalist Nurse Practitioner at the Falmouth Hospital Medical Center Clinic, where she cares for patients with acute and chronic needs.
“Every day looks a little different, which is what I love about this job,” says Hannah, who begins her day reviewing her patient schedule and helping people navigate their health challenges.
Hannah’s journey into healthcare began at a young age. In fifth grade, a friend was diagnosed with AML leukemia. Hannah recalls her friend telling her about an incredible nurse who made a huge difference in her life. That stuck with her. “I wanted to make that impact one day.”
One of the most meaningful aspects of her career has been caring for familiar faces from her hometown. At first, she wasn’t sure how it would feel treating people she knew. “But over the past four years, I’ve realized caring for those familiar faces has been a privilege. I have had the chance to care for neighbors, friends, their family members and previous teachers. Coming from a large, intercity hospital to Falmouth Hospital felt like a breath of fresh air.”
She also credits Cape Cod Healthcare for fostering a strong sense of community and helping her to grow in her career. “I completed most of my clinical hours for my Family Nurse Practitioner program within CCH. I had such a great experience during my clinicals and always felt supported as a student. This is what made me decide to start my NP career here.”
Now living in Bourne with her husband and 1-1/2-year-old son, Hannah enjoys spending time outdoors, particularly in Woods Hole and on Washburn Island. While she never envisioned returning to Cape Cod early in her career, she’s grateful for the path that led her home.
“CCHC is a unique place to work compared to other hospitals because it has a profound sense of community,” says Hannah. “It is always nice to have people ask how you are, ask about your family and truly see you as a person and not just another employee.”
A Lifelong Connection: Caring for the Community that Raised Her
Helen Price, NP
Falmouth Hospital Medical Center at Bramblebush
As a nurse practitioner, Helen Price has built a career caring for the same people and places that have been a part of her life for decades.
“I feel a deep sense of pride being able to care for the community that shaped who I am,” says Helen. “I’ve had interactions with old coaches, teachers, family members and friends. The connections I’ve built from growing up and working here deepen every day.”
Helen grew up in Falmouth after moving from Mashpee at the age of five. After graduating from Falmouth High School in 2009, she pursued nursing at Salve Regina University, earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2013. She continued her education at Salve, earning her Master’s in 2017 to become a family nurse practitioner, followed by a Doctorate in Nursing Practice in 2019.
Initially, Helen thought her career would take her beyond the Cape. “I thought I’d stay in Rhode Island after graduation,” she admits. But things took a different turn, and it turned out to be a blessing. “I had a great experience completing the new grad program at Cape Cod Hospital, and I’ve loved working on the Cape.”
Since joining Cape Cod Healthcare in 2013, Helen has held multiple roles, starting as an RN on Mugar 4 through Cape Cod Hospital’s new graduate program. She became a nurse practitioner in 2017 and now serves as the Clinical Lead NP at Falmouth Hospital Medical Center, where she oversees patient care and supports providers. A typical day involves seeing patients, assisting the nursing staff and managing patient inquiries.
Helen also works closely with her best friend, Hannah Ouimet, NP, whom she has known since kindergarten. Both are from the 2009 Falmouth High School graduating class. Classmates Danielle Bonilla, Sierra Brown, CMA, and Bonnie Costa, NP, all work with her as well.
Though Helen doesn’t come from a long line of nurses, she always knew she wanted to help people. “I loved science, and I wanted a career where I could make a difference,” she says. “It has been an honor and a privilege to give back to a community I love and care about deeply.”
Now living in Falmouth with her husband and three children—Shawn Price Jr. (born in 2019 at Falmouth Hospital), Callum Frederick (born in 2021 at Cape Cod Hospital), and Lochlan Alan (born in 2024 at Cape Cod Hospital)—Helen balances a fulfilling career with life on the Cape.
Her favorite local spots include Menauhant Beach, Washburn Island and Dairy Queen, but it’s the sense of community that makes Cape Cod truly special for her.
For young people considering a career in healthcare, Helen’s advice is simple: “Go for it! It’s not easy, but it is rewarding. Find a place that will support you and your goals.”
Following in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother
Brittany Dory, FNP-BC
Strawberry Hill Primary Care
Brittany always appreciated the Cape’s coastal beauty, but it wasn’t until later in life that she realized how special it was to grow up in such a tight-knit place.
Born and raised in Falmouth, Brittany didn’t immediately know she wanted to go into healthcare. “It wasn’t until my senior year at UMass Amherst that I really started to consider it seriously.” After earning her undergraduate degree in microbiology, she went on to complete both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing at Simmons University.
She joined Cape Cod Healthcare in 2017 as a nurse with MACC, formerly known as Emerald Physicians, and transitioned into her current role as a family nurse practitioner in 2020. Now, she sees a mix of patients for everything from routine physicals to urgent sick visits, enjoying the continuity of care that comes with working in a smaller community.
“One of the things I love most about my job is really getting to know my patients,” says Brittany. “Since I see many of the same people repeatedly, I get to learn not only about their health, but about their lives,” says Brittany, adding that it’s so important to help fill the primary care gap. “When I remember small details that patients have shared with me, I know it shows them they truly matter to me.”
Healthcare runs in Brittany’s family—her grandmother, Judy Schley, was a beloved school nurse at Morse Pond School in Falmouth, and her mother, Debra Schley, worked as an ER technician at both Falmouth Hospital and Cape Cod Hospital for a total of 20 years. “A career in healthcare was always something I considered since I was young, largely due to their influence,” says Brittany.
Although she had an incredible education in the city, Brittany quickly realized that city life wasn’t for her. “I always envisioned coming back to work in the community where I grew up.”
Now living in Plymouth, Brittany still feels deeply connected to the Cape, whether it’s through her work or enjoying fresh seafood and ocean views. She and her husband recently welcomed their first child, a son named Cole, born at Cape Cod Hospital in September 2024—further strengthening her ties to the healthcare system she proudly serves.
“Most often, I meet people who know my grandparents, Buzz and Judy Schley, as they are well known in the Falmouth community,” says Brittany. “It’s fun to hear how my grandmother was their child’s school nurse or that they worked with my grandfather at the Cape Cod Times. If I did not work where I grew up, I wouldn’t be able to share these types of connections with my patients.”
From Patient to Physician: A Personal Journey to Healing Others
Kelsey Rigby, DO
Cape Cod Rheumatology Center, Falmouth
For Kelsey Rigby, DO, a first-hand experience with a rheumatologist turned out to be life changing. While working as a medical scribe in the Emergency Department after college, she became seriously ill and spent two weeks in the hospital before a rheumatologist finally diagnosed her with vasculitis, a rare autoimmune disease. Getting the right treatment was key to her recovery and her experience inspired her to do the same for others.
A 2008 graduate of Falmouth High School, Dr. Rigby always loved science, which led her to major in biology at Christopher Newport University in Virginia. She earned her medical degree at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pennsylvania and later specialized in rheumatology through a fellowship at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire.
Now, after years of training, she’s back in Falmouth, caring for the community she once called home. “I didn’t originally plan to return, but after having my daughter, Lily, we wanted to raise her somewhere safe, where we could enjoy the outdoors and for her to have the same opportunities I had growing up,” says Dr. Rigby, who moved to Falmouth when she was in seventh grade.
Since joining Cape Cod Healthcare in September, she has been treating patients with autoimmune diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and vasculitis, the very condition that shaped her path. “These diseases are like puzzles. Many patients come to you with months of undiagnosed symptoms and pain. Autoimmune diseases are lifelong, so you really get to know your patients and have a lasting relationship with them.”
Working in a smaller community has also deepened her connection to patients. “Knowing I’ll be here long-term gives them a sense of security,” she says. “It’s important for people to have access to specialty care without having to travel over the bridge.”
One of the highlights of her job? Having lunch with her mom, Diane Rigby, a nurse in the cardiac rehab department at Falmouth Hospital. With both her parents and sister living on the Cape, the move back home was a smooth transition. Dr. Rigby loves exploring Falmouth, whether it’s enjoying the scenic views along the Shining Sea Bikeway or running the iconic Falmouth Road Race course.
From patient to physician, Dr. Rigby’s journey has come full circle. “It’s been amazing to return to the Cape—not just to live here, but to give back.”
Inspired by Family, Driven by Community
Rachel Hutchinson, RN
Mugar 4, Cape Cod Hospital
When Rachel Hutchinson, RN, was younger, her brother’s struggle with severe asthma opened her eyes to the compassionate nature of nursing, she recalls. “He was in and out of the doctor’s offices and sometimes the hospital, and I was always interested by what the nurses were doing while taking care of him.”
Rachel always envisioned working for Cape Cod Healthcare, inspired by her mother and ‘Nana,’ who both worked at Falmouth Hospital long before she was born. “I always thought I would work at Falmouth Hospital, but I got into the new grad program at Cape Cod Hospital and have enjoyed my journey here.
A graduate of Falmouth High School’s class of 2009, Rachel fondly remembers not only her academic years but also the summers filled with field hockey, lacrosse and days spent at the beach. Her upbringing instilled in her a strong sense of community, which continues to shape her career.
Determined to turn her early inspirations into a lifelong vocation, Rachel pursued her dream of becoming a nurse at Curry College in Milton, where she earned her BSN. In April 2016, she began her career with CCHC through the new grad program after an initial stint at JML. She eventually secured a full-time position on Mugar 4 at Cape Cod Hospital. With the arrival of her first son in 2021, she transitioned to a per-diem role, allowing her the flexibility to balance work and family.
A typical day for Rachel starts at 7 a.m., when she meets with patients to get the day under way. “I start my morning by saying hi to all my patients and introducing myself,” she explains. Her routine includes head-to-toe assessments, administering medications assisting patients with their needs. She says she rarely sits and always gets her steps in throughout her busy eight-hour shift.
Rachel feels a deep, personal connection to her work. “I love working close to where I grew up,” says the Centerville resident. “Whenever I have patients that know a lot about this community, it is nice to be able to bond and have conversations throughout the day about things we have in common.”
For young Cape Cod residents considering a career in healthcare, Rachel’s advice is both practical and encouraging: “CCHC has helped me become the nurse that I am today,” says the mother of two young boys who were both born at Cape Cod Hospital. “I have met so many amazing nurses that have taught me so much since I started. I am excited to continue to grow as a nurse and a person.”
