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Cecilia Ibeabuchi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
American nurse and advocate for homeless people
Cecilia Ibeabuchi
Born
OccupationRegistered Nurse
Medical career
InstitutionsSt. Francis House Nurses’ Clinic, Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program
Sub-specialtiesPodiatry

Cecilia Ibeabuchi is a Nigerian-American public health nurse who has dedicated her life to providing health care services for homeless people. She is known for starting the foot care clinic for homeless individuals at St. Francis House through Boston Healthcare for the Homeless.[1]

Early life

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In 1984, at age 24, Ibeabuchi moved from Nigeria to Boston, settling in Roxbury, and was shocked to learn that "such a wealthy nation would allow its least fortunate citizens to be homeless". As a nursing student, Ibeabuchi's curiosity about homeless people led her to a clinical rotation at the Pine Street Inn. She felt connected to homeless people, as an immigrant far away from her family. Ibeabuchi obtained a BA in biology from Emmanuel College, another BA in nursing from Simmons College, and a master’s degree in nursing from Suffolk University.[2] [1] [3] [4]

Career

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Ibeabuchi was the director of a long-term care facility in Dorchester. In 1995, Ibeabuchi began working at Boston Healthcare for the Homeless as the director of nursing. She started out running the Betty Snead House, a respite facility specially catered towards female patients. In 2001, Ibeabuchi transitioned to St. Francis House, due to a staff shortage, and has worked there ever since.[4]

After treating a patient with a severe infection in his feet, Ibeabuchi saw the need for a foot clinic for homeless people, and proposed the idea to her supervisor. The foot clinic has been in operation by BHCHP, through St. Francis House, for over two decades as of 2024, and has treated thousands of homeless patients. The focus on treating patients' feet aims to alleviate patients' discomfort, assess and identify serious health risks, improve patients' ability to transport themselves on foot, and strengthen relationships and trust between patients and providers.[4] [1] [2]

Ibeabuchi, along with Barry Bock, helped identify the need for more governance among homeless patients in the BHCHP organization, which led to the creation of the Consumer Advisory Board.[5]

Ibeabuchi has served as a mentor for African American, Latina, Asian, and Native American students through the Dotson Bridge and Mentoring Program at Simmons College, and for youth in the Nigerian Youth Organization of Boston.[6] [7] [8]

Honors

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In 2006, Ibeabuchi was a Boston Neighborhood Fellow through The Boston Foundation.[6]

In 2012, Ibeabuchi was an honorary degree recipient at Tufts University.[9] [10]

In 2020, Ibeabuchi and her clinic were featured in Kahane Cooperman's and John Hoffman's documentary, The Antidote.[11] [12]

In 2024, the Boston Celtics honored Ibeabuchi with a Hero Among Us award for her decades of work treating Boston's homeless population.[13]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Tarantal, Erika (2024年01月05日). "This Mass. program cares for unhoused with compassion, empathy". WCVB. Archived from the original on 2025年02月06日. Retrieved 2025年02月05日.
  2. ^ a b Thompson, Isaiah (2024年02月05日). "Treating Homelessness, One Foot at A Time". Non Profit News | Nonprofit Quarterly. Archived from the original on 2025年02月06日. Retrieved 2025年02月05日.
  3. ^ Morrison, Jim. "Newton woman cares for the homeless". Wicked Local. Archived from the original on 2025年02月06日. Retrieved 2025年02月06日.
  4. ^ a b c Chokki, Tenzin (2024年05月06日). "Two BHCHP Nurse Veterans Reflect on their 25+ Years Caring for Our Patients". Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program. Retrieved 2025年02月06日.
  5. ^ National Health Care for the Homeless Council (2018年09月01日). "The Birth of Consumer Advisory Boards at Health Care for the Homeless Programs: A Case Study from Boston" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025年02月06日.
  6. ^ a b "Past Neighborhood Fellows". The Boston Foundation. Archived from the original on 2025年02月06日. Retrieved 2025年02月06日.
  7. ^ "Nigerian Youth Organization Inc - GuideStar Profile". www.guidestar.org. Archived from the original on 2025年02月06日. Retrieved 2025年02月06日.
  8. ^ "Dotson Bridge & Mentoring Program | Simmons University". www.simmons.edu. Archived from the original on 2025年02月06日. Retrieved 2025年02月06日.
  9. ^ "Honorary Degree Recipients 2012". Commencement. Archived from the original on 2025年02月06日. Retrieved 2025年02月06日.
  10. ^ "Tufts University 2012 Commencement Ceremony Schedule". Medford, MA Patch. 2012年05月16日. Archived from the original on 2025年02月06日. Retrieved 2025年02月06日.
  11. ^ Cooperman, Kahane; Hoffman, John (2020年09月30日). "The Antidote". Apple TV. Archived from the original on 2025年02月06日. Retrieved 2025年02月06日.
  12. ^ Better World Projects (2020). "Official Press Kit: The Antidote" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025年02月06日.
  13. ^ Boston Celtics (2024年04月06日). "Today's @IBEW103 & @necaboston #HeroAmongUs has provided care to Boston's homeless population for 40+ years". X.

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