A transfer student, she says, “This place has been my Emerald City – a gateway to my vocation. I wouldn’t have been able to explore the full depth of my liberal arts interests at the technical college where I was previously enrolled.”
Formative life experiences shape leaders. Nursing major Miriam Miller Hughes ’26 — driven by a passion to make the world a better place — is a case in point. Her research on tuberculosis eradication was selected for the Scholars Transforming Through Research program (facilitated by the Council for Undergraduate Research). As a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow in 2024, Miriam analyzed the impact of microplastics on environmental, human and animal health. She's also producing a film to tell the stories behind the data to reach a broader audience.
Explain your research project: Evaluating the Efficacy of the Search, Treat and Prevent Model – A Comprehensive Approach to Tuberculosis Eradication.
Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death by infectious disease worldwide, killing about 1.25 million people every year – and almost all of those deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. I’m comparing how the United States, Kenya and Peru each approach tuberculosis – specifically how they screen for it, treat it and work to prevent its spread. It’s really about using TB as a lens to understand complex global health inequities.
Why is this research meaningful to you?
My father passed away when I was six and our house was foreclosed, resulting in me relying on Social Security and Medicare throughout my childhood. It made me realize that my health and well-being were largely determined by the circumstances I was born into. … My hope is to one day use this knowledge to help shape health policy.
Explain the value of the nursing department’s immersive study abroad and service program in Kenya.
The most powerful part of nursing students going to Kenya is how the country and its people minister to us. By being immersed in a health care system so different from our own and in a culture that values community over individualism, we are challenged to see the world differently. Experiencing the joy, generosity and hospitality of people who have so little materially but so much spiritually and communally … gives me a broader understanding of what it means to be human.
What motivated you to start a college chapter for Partners in Health?
Grounded in the belief that health care is a human right, the organization operates in 11 countries, strengthening health systems and working in close partnership with local governments to ensure sustainable, community-based care.
What’s in your future?
I plan to return to Kenya to help one of our community partners launch a health clinic. I’m also pursuing my MBA in Health Care Administration. My goal is to continue working in global health, both as a nurse and as a policymaker. I hope to earn my Doctorate in Nursing Practice with a focus on women’s health and midwifery, and to use those skills to serve in low-income settings.
