Alumni Profile: Arline Villa Rubio ’24N Advocates for Underserved Populations

Long before Arline Villa Rubio ’24N earned her bachelor’s in nursing at the University of Rochester, a passion for community health was always at the heart of her work.

A first-generation college graduate who came to the U.S. from Mexico as a child, she earned her first bachelor’s in public health at the State University of New York (SUNY) Brockport and interned at a local health center. A firsthand look at how health disparities affected individuals near her own hometown led Villa Rubio to take on a full-time role as the program coordinator for a regional coalition that assists migrant and farmworker families.

“As I witnessed the difficulties and barriers patients face when accessing health care, my passion for helping others grew even stronger,” she recalled. “It was through these fulfilling experiences that I finally realized my desire to work in nursing. It was the perfect way to combine my desire to make an impact with my love for science and fascination with the medical field.”

When she crossed the stage at this summer’s pinning ceremony, Villa Rubio’s aspirations became her newest achievement: she is an inaugural graduate of the UR Nursing Scholars program, which offers full tuition coverage for selected accelerated bachelor’s students in exchange for a three-year work commitment at a UR Medicine-affiliated hospital after passing the licensure exam.

Charting a new path

Making a career change to nursing and pursuing a second bachelor’s can be challenging. Introduced last fall, the UR Nursing Scholars program helpes remove barriers that often prevent aspiring nurses from pursuing a degree by offering robust financial aid, connections with mentors in the profession, and guaranteed clinical placements.

“The Scholars program has truly been instrumental in shaping my career path,” the recent graduate said. “Not only has it provided networking opportunities, career guidance, and information sessions, but it has also been a tremendous support system for me.”

“The program’s financial support especially alleviated a significant burden, allowing me to focus more on my studies,” she added, recalling the demands of balancing work and school in her undergraduate years.

The program was also well-tailored to non-nurses, providing students with valuable insights into the student-to-nurse transition, benefits, residency programs, and orientation processes. One-on-one encouragement and career advice from program directors and faculty helped Villa Rubio stay on-track, build her confidence, and find her first nursing job.

She will soon join Strong Memorial Hospital as a registered nurse on G1600, the Emergency Medicine Transition Unit, following a capstone project on dealing with emergency situations.

“My experiences in the accelerated program have been instrumental in shaping my nursing career,” she said. “I’ve had the privilege of learning from outstanding clinical instructors like Dee Dee Rutigliano, MS, RN, and Margot Buschang, MS, RN-BC, CNEcL, just to name a few, who have provided me with support and knowledge.”

Advice for future accelerated students

Building a strong network of support was the key to Villa Rubio’s success in the program. Sharing advice for others who embark on the 12-month program, she emphasized the importance of seeking out mentors or faculty members to offer guidance, and friends to lean on.

“Alongside my family and friends who have supported me every step of the way, I was fortunate to meet three incredible best friends in nursing school who stood by me during both my toughest days and most rewarding moments, and approachable faculty who were patient and encouraging. Having the right support can truly impact your success,” she shared.

Self-care is also an essential practice for accelerated nursing students, emphasized by faculty from day one: “Taking time for yourself — even if it’s just scrolling on TikTok, taking a nap, going for a walk, or going out to eat with friends for a couple of hours — is important,” said Villa Rubio, who likes to kayak, hike, swim, and stroll along Rochester’s Park Avenue as her way of unwinding.

Continuing her URMC career

Villa Rubio’s role as an RN at Strong is both a new chapter and a homecoming. In addition to her background in community health and nonprofits, she joins the nursing field with three years of experience as a clinical technician in the University of Rochester Medical Center’s (URMC) Imaging Department.

“The supportive environment and sense of community I encountered while at Strong — from the nurses and providers, to other staff members — made me want to continue my journey here at URMC,” she said.

URMC’s commitment to continuing education and professional development also stood out to her. She’s considering pursuing a master’s later on, seeking opportunities in community-based nursing, and possibly taking on a role as a charge nurse or nurse manager in the future.

Wherever her career path takes her, she hopes to give back to those who first inspired her to become a nurse. Her personal experiences as a former community health worker and part of an immigrant family have shaped her future goals in nursing.

“I plan to engage in more community health projects to make an impact and reduce health disparities, particularly among underserved and underrepresented populations such as the migrants and farmworkers, who hold a very special place in my heart,” she said.

“My life experiences have shown me the importance of representation in healthcare, and have inspired me to one day be a role model for others and make a substantial difference in my patients’ lives and in my community.”

Learn more about the UR Nursing Scholars program and accelerated program pathways. Get the latest School of Nursing news in your inbox.