Scholarships change lives

As a daughter in a close-knit Hispanic family, Gabriela Ruiz-Coss has always carried a profound sense of responsibility – one that shaped her life and led her to care for those she loves.

When Gabriela was 13, her mother became disabled, and from that point on, Gabriela became her primary caregiver. “I’ve been deeply involved in her care for as long as I can remember,” she said. Her parents also relied on her to translate vital health information from English to Spanish, further deepening her commitment to serving her family.

After graduating from San Diego State University, Gabriela set aside her plans for graduate school and flew across the country to Georgetown, South Carolina, to care for an uncle diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer.

“Culturally, that’s a role that’s been deeply instilled in us,” Gabriela said. “The oldest daughter in the household helps care for the younger siblings, the older ones and the sick.”

In addition to becoming her uncle’s full-time caregiver, Gabriela took a job at a nonprofit that provides behavioral health support to children and families. The position allowed her to save for graduate school while applying her psychology degree in a meaningful way.

“I helped children learn how to regulate their emotions, educated parents about depression, and showed them how to create structure at home for their children,” she said.

Working in behavioral health with children and families, Gabriela recognized the urgent need for psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs), who play a crucial role in addressing mental health conditions and helping families navigate life’s challenges. PMHNPs work in diverse settings, including schools, correctional facilities and community mental health centers, where their expertise is essential."

Until that moment, Gabriela had been considering a career in social work or psychology. "I’ve always had a passion for nursing and psychology, and this field allowed me to merge them," she explained. "It felt like the perfect career for me."

As Gabriela worked through her nursing prerequisites, the pandemic changed everything. When her uncle passed away, she moved from Georgetown to Charleston, eager to gain experience with the MUSC pandemic response team. There, she worked her way up, eventually accepting a position as program coordinator with the MUSC College of Nursing.

"In my role, I help a faculty member run a behavioral mental health program at the pediatric clinic in North Charleston," Gabriela shared. "Our goal is to provide mental health services and medication management to low-income Hispanic families. Currently, 5% of the patient population at the clinic only speak Spanish – patients with stories similar to my own upbringing."

Throughout this time, Gabriela worked tirelessly, saving money to pay for her application to nursing school. Her efforts paid off when she was accepted into the College of Nursing’s accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program (ABSN) program. She just completed the first of four semesters, supported by the Olivette Garr Smith Scholarship, which was established in 2018 in memory of Garr Smith by her classmate, Mervyn Juchartz, Class of 1947.

Like most MUSC undergraduate students, Gabriela relies on federal loans to pay for her education. The income she earns through her role with the college helps cover her bills, fill her gas tank and provide health care for her mother in California.

"It’s part of why working is so important to me – so that, along with my older siblings, we can share the responsibility of her care," Gabriela explained.

She said receiving a scholarship has eased her financial burden and helped her focus on the task at hand: becoming a nurse. In a heartfelt thank-you letter to her donor, Gabriela wrote, "Your extraordinary generosity has been an answer to my prayers. It has given me peace of mind, allowing me to focus fully on my studies this semester."

With the help of this scholarship, Gabriela is not only turning her dream into reality but also preparing to offer the care that her community – like her family – often finds hard to access. Her journey is a testament to the power of investing in students who are poised to make a lasting impact on underserved populations.

"I can’t put into words how much this means," she said. "I’m deeply thankful for those who contribute to making our training possible."