Big Blue Marble welcomes Donna L. Torissi, MSN and her new photo essay book on the lives of 28 women whose tattoos tell their stories of recovery and survival. She'll be joined by Annette Deigh and Kim Velasco, two of the women featured in the book.
About this book
Donna says, "I was first introduced to tattoos when my son inadvertently fell asleep on the couch and his shirt sleeve rolled up to reveal his tattoo that prior had remained intentionally hidden from me. He was 17 at the time. I was not happy to say the least as I had the old idea of tattoos belonging to gangs, inmates and drunken sailors. I had to either alienate him and stay angry or join him in his fascination for body art. That was a no brainer for me. I later began paying attention to my patient’s tattoos and hearing about the deep meaning they had, decided that someday I would do a book about tattoos and my women patients. In 2016, I started interviewing women along with Ken Kauffman, the book’s photographer and the rest is history."
About the Author
Donna L. Torrisi, MSN has been a Nurse Practitioner since 1976. In 1992 obtaining a federal grant, she founded a Community Health Center in Philadelphia which grew to five sites serving over 25,000 patients. That CHC model and her work are recognized nationally and have been the recipient of multiple awards. While directing the network of centers, she continued to provide primary care to the low income communities. It was here that she was inspired by her courageous and resilient patients to write this book.
She is a graduate of Villanova University and the University of Pennsylvania. She has received the Villanova University Leadership in Nursing award, the University of Pa. Lillian Brunner Sholstis award for Excellence in Nursing Practice, the Pa. Nurses Association Leadership award for Innovative Practice, and the National Alliance for Resident Services in Affordable and Assisted Housing, Practitioner of the Year.
