Dr. Nelly Burdette
Dear Neighbor,
When I was 41 with three young children, I received life-changing news: I had breast cancer. I had to fight it with all I had, while being a mom and balancing my work and family life.
Everyone with cancer has a different path. My path meant I chose to work through the brain fog, through the exhaustion, through losing my hair, and through the desire to remain strong and hopeful even though I was terrified. I was lucky that I had support at home and at work so that I could continue to show up where it was important, but I was also grappling with other questions. Had I done enough? Is there more work that I need to do in the world? With these questions on repeat in my mind, I knew that it was important for me to keep going. I am so grateful for the medical care I received, and that I am cancer-free.
These experiences have shown me how precious time is, and how important it is to stand up for what you believe. That’s why I am writing to you today, to share that I am the Democratic candidate for State Senate in our district, in Lincoln, North Providence, and North Smithfield. I want to share who I am, what I stand for, and some background on my family and my professional and community work.
When I was three years old, my parents and I, like the ancestors of so many of us in Rhode Island, came to America for freedom. Freedom from authoritarianism and repression and ethnic prejudice, and for the opportunity to work hard and make a better life, especially for their young daughter. Our immigrant story took us to Texas, where I learned English and started school. Having an accent and being new to the country meant that I experienced some real bullying for a while. It led me to look out for others once I could look out for myself.
My parents came to America from Ukraine, when it was in the old Soviet Union, with some pots and pans, a large living room rug, and $50. They built a stable life for us that was rooted in academic accomplishments, fierce independence, and sacrifice. They worked long hours in many roles so that they could help me afford college and graduate school. They made sure that my summers were filled with opportunities to learn and grow. With a strong sense that I had a safety net if I needed one (and there were many times I did), my family’s legacy was to ensure that their children could stand on their own in a country that was filled with more promise than they could have ever imagined for themselves. I am here today with my family in Lincoln, where my husband William and I are raising our children, because of my parents’ unwavering support.
I met William in Worcester, Massachusetts, where I moved for graduate school. I was new to the town—he knew the city, I didn’t, and he offered to show me around. It was wonderful discovering a new place, and that first date started a friendship that led to marriage. A job at the Providence Veteran’s Administration Hospital brought us to Rhode Island.
Our oldest is fifteen. He’s a cross-country and track and field competitive athlete, and plays saxophone like his father. Our twins, who are thirteen, are about as different as twins could be. One enjoys any sport or game and often spends his free time reading, playing piano, or watching animals in nature for hours. He is also in the Scouts with his brother, where their love for hiking, camping and adventure come together. Our daughter is the most engaged when she is in social situations, with her friends or Girl Scouts, or any activity that involves creativity, art, or dogs. Lucky for us, our labradoodle, Hazel, has many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors with us. At one point, we thought we might start a family band and so I learned to play the drums. William even made me a drum-support-on-wheels so I could keep up with a marching band we were both a part of (and he still is!) while I was pregnant.
We picked Lincoln, as so many do, because we wanted to live in a community where we could afford a home with a little land and where the public schools were known for their high quality. Lincoln is the small town that has all of the pieces that are important to us: walkable neighborhoods where kids can play and adults can be active, unique small businesses that are family-owned and operated, and lovely green spaces like Lincoln Woods and the Blackstone Valley Bikeway. We are so grateful that we were able to move our family to Lincoln and to find everything we need to create a life we love.
A large part of my drive to create a meaningful life has been my work. The way I do my job is an especially good way to see how I’ll work for you in the State House.
As a psychologist, I know that everyone should have access to high-quality medical and behavioral health care because both are critical to people’s overall well-being. Having both kinds of care within the same health practice is not only convenient, but often the best way to deliver better whole-person primary care.
Transforming traditional primary care practices into genuine integrated care centers has been the focus of my career. I trained at one of the first integrated health centers in the country - River Valley Health in Tennessee, which is a federally qualified health center and a behavioral health center. I brought my experience in this cutting edge approach with me to Rhode Island. And now, because of the work I led, tens of thousands of Rhode Islanders have accessed integrated healthcare. I’m proud of what we have been able to accomplish for our patients.
I also took what I learned from my cancer treatment to change how I support my patients at work. I noticed that cancer survivors were struggling to come back into primary care after finishing cancer treatment, with its significant patient support. So I took that experience and that understanding and created a clinic specifically for cancer survivors coming back to routine primary care. We may well have been the first in the country.
Focusing on what is within your control is often how I help my patients, and it’s also how I focus my efforts when I want to accomplish something big.
Looking back, I realize that my drive to use my experiences to help others came directly from the values I learned early on. I find joy in being able to come up with creative ways to solve problems - taking the perspectives of many people, and helping create something new and better. I’m always asking: I know it’s always been done this way, but could there be a different approach that bridges things together better, brings people together who have differences, and engages in civil conversation that gets everyone closer to what they want?
That’s why I have decided to run for State Senate. As a doctor of psychology, I treat one person at a time; as your advocate in the Senate, I’ll be able to contribute to important policies to help the whole state. I am excited to bring my experience and your viewpoints to the State House, to ask the hard questions, and create policies that support our community. I want to make sure that our community is represented honestly and fairly at the State House. I know that together we can come up with new and better ways to see Rhode Island thrive.
I promise you I’ll serve you as a Senator as I’ve lived my life: I’ll work hard, study with a purpose, take on challenges, follow through, and make change happen. And yes, always stand up to bullies.
I know what a privilege it is to live, work, and raise a family here. I pledge that I’ll be guided by the values and priorities we share, and take them to the State House. Help me send a different message from our community - one that brings everyone together, celebrates our uniqueness, and allows us to create a path to get to where we want to be! I respectfully ask for your vote on November 3rd.
Sincerely,
Dr. Nelly Burdette
P.S. I hope we meet while I’m visiting door-to-door, or at a house party or other event. Speaking with our neighbors at their doors has been the highlight of my recent days! But in the meantime, I encourage you to call or text me at 401-830-3826, email me at nelly@electnelly.com, or sign up for my newsletter at www.electnelly.com.