Sophie Vilamara is a senior nursing student, a resident assistant and president of Case Western Reserve University’s Undergraduate Student Government. We talked with her recently about nursing at CWRU and her future plans.
Watch her video.
Q: What do you love about nursing at CWRU?
A: I love the Health Education Campus and how the building allows our program to incorporate elements of interdisciplinary collaboration. I also appreciate how our nursing program actively focuses on community health and encourages us to utilize our knowledge to serve the Greater Cleveland community. In addition, I appreciate how easy it is to connect with professors outside of class hours because of our small class sizes!
Q: How are clinicals preparing you for your career?
A: From 4-hour shifts starting the third week of school to working an entire nursing schedule (12 hours a day) as a senior, CWRU most definitely equips nursing students with the tools to thrive as soon as they graduate. Being able to graduate with the perspective of a variety of different floors allows new grad nurses to make an informed decision as to what type of career path to pursue.
Q: Who has influenced you at CWRU?
A: When I came for an admitted students day, I began talking with a faculty member at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing about opportunities for work-study. She actually offered me a job at the nursing lab on the spot and told me to follow up with her over the summer! As a low-income student, coming in with a job secured was like a dream come true. I met one of my most significant mentors, Mary Kim, through this role. She was a lab teaching assistant at the time. Her frequent acts of kindness, such as offering me home-cooked meals and offering me advice about navigating the nursing field, made me feel so taken care of.
Q: What are your career goals?
A: Ultimately, I’m interested in getting involved with health care policy. Policymakers rarely have a substantial background in health care, and I believe that it is essential to have a knowledge base in medicine to effectively advocate for legislation that has the potential to modify one’s health care rights.
Article Date
October 12, 2021
