What are the most impactful things you have done over the last four years?
The Simmons Passionate Leaders Project award allowed me to pursue a self-designed project aimed at providing colorectal cancer education and free preventative screenings (fecal immunochemical tests) to underserved communities. This project was inspired by my grandmother, who is a stage III colorectal cancer survivor.
In partnership with Dr. Avina Rami [an internal medicine resident at Brigham and Women’s Hospital], we were able to share vital healthcare education regarding routine screenings, hallmark symptoms, risk factors, and preventative measures. Though devastating, this disease can be curable if recognized and treated early. I’m forever grateful that this project granted me the opportunity to create meaningful connections and positively impact the lives of many.
Did your course of study entail any internships or travel/study abroad opportunities?
Although this internship was not part of my course of study, I had the privilege of participating in the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine’s Generation Tomorrow Summer Research Program, where I helped conduct a health equity research project examining STI screening prevalence among women living with and at risk for HIV.
This program provided enriching weekly lectures addressing socioeconomic and structural health disparities in Baltimore, Maryland, and I've had the opportunity to engage in community-based service initiatives such as free naloxone (Narcan) distribution, tabling, and shadowing experiences in emergency medicine, and outpatient sexual health and pulmonology clinics.
What was your favorite Simmons course and why?
“Talking in the 21st Century” (HON 190), taught by faculty member Valerie Geary. This public speaking course strengthened my presentation and argumentation skills and overall boosted my confidence in sharing my passions with a wider audience. At the end of the course, it was a pleasure witnessing my peers’ incredible presentations on their chosen topics. I presented the issue of nurse-to-nurse bullying in the workplace and its consequences on patient outcomes and safety.
Who was your most influential Simmons professor/mentor and why?
Simmons Counseling Center Social Worker Jamila Batts Capitman has been my Simmons mental health counselor throughout the entirety of my college journey. She has helped me overcome some of the hardest moments of my life and helped nurture the significant growth and progress that I’ve made.
I will never forget the advice that she’s given me, as well as the moments she led me to recognize my self-worth. I still have some of the art therapy crafts that we’ve made together during our sessions, and I will cherish the art and memories forever. Jamila is absolutely incredible and has been so good to me. Words cannot express how grateful I am to have had such a perfect mentorship match.
How has Simmons prepared you for your career path or intended profession?
The Simmons School of Nursing (SON) provided me with diverse, hands-on clinical training at leading medical institutions, including Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Franciscan Children’s Hospital, and the Jamaica Plain VA Medical Center.
I’m currently in the process of completing a senior nursing 1:1 preceptorship in an adult general medicine-telemetry unit at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. This experience allowed me to gain foundational, well-rounded nursing skills that I can utilize in almost any inpatient career opportunity as a new-graduate nurse!
What advice do you have for current and incoming Simmons students?
Choosing Simmons also means choosing yourself. The small class sizes, inspiring community, and unmatched location and opportunities will help you achieve your biggest dreams. Enjoy every moment of your college experience and take advantage of all the wonderful things Simmons has to offer — your education and goals will thrive if you do!