Spartan Nurse Podcast - Embracing Community and Belonging

In this episode of the Spartan Nurse podcast, Harley Brown and Dr. Mike Martel sit down with Camila Rios and Dr. Larissa Miller. Camila Rios is a first-year undergraduate student at Michigan State University from Chicago, Illinois. As a first-generation daughter of immigrants, she currently navigates the pre-nursing path. Camila has been volunteering at Rush Hospital's Cancer Survivors Week since a young age.
Her senior year of high school saw her working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at Rush, where she collaborated with RNs and CNAs on the med-surg floor, engaging in essential tasks like providing bed baths, cleaning wounds, and assisting patients with daily activities.
Camila is driven to pursue a nursing career with a dual goal of representing minorities in the medical field and improving healthcare access in underserved communities.
At Michigan State University, she has immersed herself in clubs aligning with her aspirations, including the Latino Medical Student Association and is the President Multicultural Nursing Student Association.
Eager to deepen her understanding of nursing, Camila anticipates her journey of growth and learning within the College of Nursing at MSU.
Dr. Larissa Miller, an Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Professional Development at Michigan State University's College of Nursing, has over two decades of experience as a nurse educator.
Her extensive career includes roles as a clinical hospital educator, lead professor, campus curriculum chairperson, and simulation program coordinator. Larissa holds certifications as an ANCC Board Certified Nursing Professional Development specialist and an NLN Certified Nurse Educator.
Her academic journey involves earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing at Michigan State University, a post-master’s in nursing education at Northern Michigan University, and a PhD at Concordia University in Chicago, where her research focused on compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress in nursing.
Appointed to the Michigan Board of Nursing in 2021, Larissa contributes her expertise to its Administrative Rules and Nursing Education subcommittees.
She is a key figure in Michigan's nursing development, serving on the steering committee for Michigan Professional Nursing Development [MIPND], the executive board of the Michigan Health Council, and the Michigan Nursing Action Coalition.
Recognized as a 2022 MSU STEAM Power Arts Fellow, she remains committed to integrating the arts into nursing education, showcasing her dedication to a holistic and innovative approach in shaping the future of nursing.
Currently, she is the faculty advisor for the College of Nursing’s 2024 Multicultural Nursing Student Association.