Benedda Sabino
MS in Advanced Clinical Management and Leadership ’25
All these experiences compelled me to take this step forward in my career, mostly to challenge my inner critic, but also to give me confidence in becoming a change agent.
Please tell us a bit about yourself; where are you from, and what do you like to do in your spare time?
I immigrated from Philippines to the U.S. almost 20 years ago. The N.Y.C./N.J. metro area has been home to me since. When not at work, I’m usually resting and recharging in nature with friends, my husband, and our fur-kids.
Why did you decide to pursue nursing, and why did you choose Columbia?
At 17 years old, I was the youngest in class when I started my journey at Hudson County Community College/Christ Hospital School of Nursing in Jersey City, N.J. In the beginning, taking up nursing was a means to anchor myself after being uprooted from my homeland; to stay grounded in preparation to move forward. In those early years as an immigrant, pursuing an Ivy League degree was a dream, deferred.
In 2018, I joined the perioperative team at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Alongside the leadership and mentorship of two motivated patient care directors during my tenure there, our unit survived the COVID-19 pandemic despite being thrown into unfamiliar environments and inconvenient shifts to address the surges.
All these experiences compelled me to take this step forward in my career, mostly to challenge my inner critic, but also to give me confidence in becoming a change agent. I became a perioperative clinical nurse manager the same month I started the Advanced Clinical Management and Leadership program.
What are you passionate about, and how has being a student at Columbia Nursing allowed you to follow that passion?
My joy and passion lie in the realization of quality health care for all. Throughout my professional experiences, I’ve learned that this also means a healthy and engaged workforce.
At Columbia Nursing, I was exposed to different perspectives through our professors and classmates. Our graduating class is evidence of what we can achieve as nurses, especially with the right support and resources. From the bedside to the boardrooms, our voices shape health care delivery.
Do you have a favorite memory of your time at Columbia Nursing?
My favorite memory is attending an in-person forum on artificial intelligence at the Columbia Business School as part of our Health and Social Policy class in Fall 2023. It was nice to be on campus for a change (our classes were all online) and finally meet and exchange ideas with classmates in real life. We also got to briefly talk with the speakers about the implications of AI in health care.
What are your next steps after graduation?
I’m currently cocooning. It’s been a fast-paced decade. I’m basking in the light of this milestone by spending time with my family and imagining the future.