Native American Heritage Month: Zonnee Hernandez, Clinical Perfusion Class of 2026
Growing up Cherokee, every weekend was a Thanksgiving feast
Zonnee Hernandez grew up in Brooklyn, surrounded by her extended family. She was in 8th grade, when her parents finally had an opportunity to pursue the American dream and purchase a home. Due to the high price of housing in Brooklyn, they opted to buy a house in Slate Hill, a small, rural community in Orange County, Upstate New York. Distance may have separated them from their relatives, which mostly lived in Brooklyn and on Staten Island, but Zonnee's connection to her family and their heritage remained strong.
Zonnee is Native American, a descendant of the Cherokee tribe that settled in North Carolina. When asked about her heritage, Zonnee's voice filled with enthusiasm:
“Imagine a Thanksgiving feast every weekend. My entire family would gather for a large family dinner at my grandparents’ home and really spend time together. The elders in our family would tell stories because in Native American culture, we don’t write history in the same way traditional history is recorded. It’s all spoken word. We rely on our elders to tell us stories about our ancestors. Although the distance makes it difficult to gather as often as we used to, we still make time to gather several times a year, which makes each gathering all the more special.”
Zonnee shared more memories from her childhood.
“When I was seven years old, I grew my hair to my thighs. I really wanted to donate my hair to children undergoing chemotherapy. In our culture, hair is sacred. We believe hair holds memories, whether those memories are good or bad. Cutting your hair can be freeing, but you have to have a good reason, and it has to be for a purpose. Hair is never cut to be thrown away, it has to be put to use, which is why it’s prayed over. Then we’re able to cut our hair. When I donated my hair, it was a family affair. Everyone was on board because what I was doing was selfless. As children, we are taught the values and sense of community and selflessness. My entire family was there to partake in prayer when my grandmother cut my hair. We took pictures of the occasion. It was very special and still one of my most fond memories.”
For Zonnee, it's important to know where her family comes from. “My great, great grandmother was born on a reservation, but back then they didn’t have birth certificates, so we didn’t really know how old she was. My family picked out a birthday for her so she could feel special on that day. When she passed away a few years ago, we think she was over one hundred years old.”
At fourteen years old, Zonnee decided she wanted to work in the operating room.
“I was in the delivery room when my sister was born. It was a complicated birth. Everyone was so attentive towards my mom. The nurses, the midwives and the doctors were all working as a team. I longed to be a part of that team. I wanted to ask, ‘what can I do?’ That experience inspired me to pursue a career in healthcare.” It corresponded with Zonnee’s Cherokee values. “In our heritage, family is considered a community. Going into healthcare made sense. It was way to give back as much as possible and be a part of a community.”
When it came time for high school, Zonnee chose the Allied Health Assistant program at Orange-Ulster BOCES. She described it as an eye-opening experience. "I got my foot in the door. I learned about healthcare and how to care for people as a medical assistant. Through BOCES, I shadowed a bunch of medical and healthcare professionals, including nurses and physicians near my hometown." This helped her make important decisions about her future.
After graduating in 2019, Zonnee went on to earn a BS in Neuropsychology from Penn State. “At the time, I wanted to go to med school and become a child and adolescent psychiatrist. I did an internship at NYU Child Study Center and explored the ins and outs of the profession. I really enjoyed it, but I felt something was missing. Med school is a long process. I was eager to get into the operating room. That’s what led me to perfusion.” Clinical perfusionists are crucial members of any OR team, and the MS degree in Clinical Perfusion only takes two years. However, Zonnee explained, for Native Americans, being a perfusionist is a bit controversial.
"It’s okay for someone to be put on cardiopulmonary bypass. Helping people is fine, but Cherokee don’t believe in organ transplants or organ donations. Cherokee believe they need their organs intact for the afterlife. Saving a family member is the only reason you might do it. As a perfusionist, I really want to educate people about organ transplants and how beneficial they are. Whether they choose to do it or not is their choice, but I think it is very important for them to have more information. It’s a tough juxtaposition to make this case to a nation of people with strong beliefs about how their decisions in this world will affect their outcomes in the next life, but I am up for the challenge."
After researching the clinical perfusion profession, Zonnee chose the MS program at SUNY Upstate College of Health Professions. “I was drawn to the simulation labs. They are a real advantage because they allow me to hone my skills before going into the operating room, where patients are literally relying on you.
“I also like how the curriculum falls into place. What we learn in class corresponds to what we’re learning in sim lab. It ties together so nicely. I’m constantly learning new things, but I’m doing it in multiple classes which helps me hone my knowledge."
Zonnee enjoys the community at Upstate. “Everyone is so welcoming. Faculty and students try to help each other as much as possible. It’s a rigorous program. If I’m having trouble, I know I can go to someone who will do everything they can to steer me in the right direction and give me guidance.”
She also appreciates that students and professors come from diverse backgrounds. “The professors respect our differences, including our different learning styles and study habits. They allow us to be ourselves. It’s a free space and a safe space for expressing ideas and opinions, especially about the field. There’s always something to talk about, including ideas nobody thought of.”
Despite the rigorous program, Zonnee still finds time to read. “I switched to Audible books. I like learning about other peoples’ cultures. Recently, I listened to Tara Westover’s memoir, Educated. It’s about a Mormon woman who pursued an education. In her culture, that was frowned upon. I enjoyed following her journey.”
After Zonnee graduates and passes the boards, she plans to participate in as many cases as possible. “I want to advance my skill set, learn from seasoned perfusionists and become a well-respected and trusted perfusionist recognized in the field.” During her senior-year clinical rotations, which occur at multiple locations across the country, Zonnee will gain a better sense of her options. “I might go back to NYC or, depending on my rotations, I might change my mind. I’m open to new places and opportunities and pushing myself out of my comfort zone. Wherever I decide to settle, I will still make it a priority to continue the traditions of gathering with my family throughout the year, as that connection to my family community is a value I would like to pass down to my own family in the future.”
Photos:
Top: Zonnee surveys the horizon while standing on Sam's Point in Minnewaska State Park, Ulster County, NY
Middle: As part of her BOCES Allied Health Assistant training, Zonnee and other students took a ride with the flight paramedics on an emergency helicopter.
Bottom: Zonnee Hernandez with her siblings
Learn more about the Clinical Perfusion program at SUNY Upstate College of Health Professions: https://www.upstate.edu/chp/programs/clinical-perfusion/index.php