My name is Emily Combias and I graduated from the IHP’s ABSN program this past May (2022). Although originally from New Jersey, I completed my undergraduate degree in Southern California and then moved abroad to Germany for three years before deciding to pursue a career in nursing. Regardless of the changes in terrain, from the hills in SoCal, to the Black Forest in Germany, to the esplanade in Boston, running has always been a constant in my life, keeping me grounded and allowing me the space to process life’s challenges. While at the IHP, I completed my first two half-marathons, with the ultimate goal of running a full marathon when I turned thirty; it is now my year! I am ecstatic to represent the IHP and join the thousands of athletes participating in the 2023 Boston Marathon.

I am raising funds to support a newly endowed ABSN scholarship that supports students with both financial need and experience or interest in working in global health. Growing up, service and volunteer work both domestically and abroad has always been an important and formidable part of my life. During my time at the IHP, I was impressed with how committed the program was to raising cultural awareness and challenging students to become engaged in sometimes difficult, but imperative conversations regarding the barriers that vulnerable populations face when it comes to accessing quality care. Now working at MGH as an Oncology Nurse, I can see first-hand the importance of bridging this gap in care by not only fostering a diverse workforce, but also sharing resources and knowledge across borders to improve health on a global scale. I hope that my fundraising efforts will help any soul with the heart to pursue a career in nursing an equal chance for an incredible education, to improve patient care, and make the future of nursing a more diverse and globally impactful field of healthcare.