Tomczyk

Sara Marie Tomczyk, 24, Minneapolis, a 2009 graduate of the University of Minnesota in nursing, focused her undergraduate work in international health and migrant care. Her studies included internship opportunities to explore health and social change in Ethiopia and Turkey. Sara founded the U of M Global Health and Transcultural Nursing Group and also served as a student senator on behalf of all academic health program students. While a student, she worked at the Minneapolis Center for Victims of Torture in refugee case management. At the University, Sara was recognized with the Zander Award for Outstanding Leadership, the President's Student Leadership and Service Award, the Ellen Fahey Nursing Leadership Award, the Academic and Social Service Bentson Scholarship, and the Journal of Vascular Nursing Writing Award for research publication. After graduation, Sara spent two years in Ethiopia as public health manager for International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), where her efforts centered around neglected tropical diseases, specifically a disfiguring, stigmatizing disease of the feet called podoconiosis. Sara developed a new holistic model of treatment and care involving all members of the community and created a series of integrated multi-level projects to improve life for those affected. Sara has also served as the international podoconiosis manager for TOMS Shoes, a company that donates a pair of shoes to people in need for every one purchased. This fall, Sara begins a Master's Program in epidemiology/public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.