On the Plaza: Finding His Path in Nursing

After frustrating stints as a paralegal and as an intern at an engineering firm, Kevin Momber was looking for meaningful work where he could make a difference in people’s lives. Inspired by a friend who was planning a career in nursing, he enrolled in an accelerated bachelor of nursing program in Michigan. While earning his degree, he volunteered at a local clinic that catered to uninsured patients. From that experience he was struck by the wide disparity in health-care delivery that exists in this country.

Now pursuing his master’s of science in nurse anesthesia at the School of Nursing, Momber is aiming to do his part in combatting those inequities. Awarded Duke’s full-tuition University Scholarship, he has worked in the pediatric intensive- care unit and volunteered with Camp Kaleidoscope, a camp for children with chronic and terminal illnesses. He is considering earning a doctorate as well.

Eventually, Momber hopes to work with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), the international medical humanitarian organization. “I want to work directly with underserved populations, but I also want to help communities improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their health-care systems,” he says.