07/15/2026
π Employee Spotlight: Meet Our New Director of Nursing β Danica Urda π
Please join us in welcoming Danica Urda as the new Director of Nursing at Villa Maria Nursing & Rehabilitation!
Danica brings a unique combination of clinical expertise, leadership, and compassion to our team. Before becoming a nurse, she worked as an EMT, where she discovered her passion for caring for others. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS), building on her Finance degree from the University of Connecticut.
She began her nursing career in the Emergency Department, where she has spent the past 3Β½ years caring for patients and continues to work on a per diem basis to stay connected to bedside care. Most recently, Danica served as the Assistant Director of Nursing at Cherry Brook Health Care Center in Canton, Connecticut, where she developed her leadership skills, mentored nursing staff, and helped ensure exceptional resident care.
Originally from Simsbury, Connecticut, Danica enjoys spending time by the water and recently fulfilled a lifelong dream by purchasing a beach house in East Lyme, which she is renovating with her parents. She is passionate about fostering a positive, supportive environment where teamwork, communication, and compassionate care help both residents and staff thrive.
We are excited to have Danica leading our nursing team and look forward to the knowledge, leadership, and enthusiasm she brings to Villa Maria. Please join us in giving her a warm welcome! π