The Fuld Leadership Program
Fuld Fellowships
Jessica Gross
Biographical Sketch
Reflections on the Fuld Fellowship
Incorporating Social Responsibility into Daily Life
The Role of Hope In Social Responsibility
Biographical Sketch
Jessica Madigan Gross was born in Waukegan, IL, but spent her childhood at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, just east of Knoxville, TN. She later attended Wheaton College where she studied anthropology and participated in Human Needs and Global Resources (HNGR), an international development internship program that solidified her commitment to holistic healthcare. While completing her HNGR internship in Cochabamba, Bolivia, Jessica interned for Food for the Hungry International (FHI), researching oral rehydration therapy usage among Quechuan mothers. She also served as a nurse’s aide at the Harry Williams Salvation Army Hospital conducting medical intakes and providing direct patient care. The beauty that surrounded Jessica’s experience in Bolivia inspired her to pursue further study in theology, nursing and global public health.
Upon her return to the States, Jessica began studying theology at Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) where she pursued her master’s degree in biblical studies. During her time at RTS, she spent a year working among a homeless population in Orlando. After marrying Peter Evans Gross, Jessica spent a year as a visiting student of theology at Wycliffe Hall in the University of Oxford, England, where she studied Islam. There, an internship through the International NGO Training & Research Center (INTRAC) strengthened both her understanding of capacity building and desire to work for an organization committed to vulnerable populations. Before coming to Emory, Jessica volunteered through AmeriCorps as an enrichment programmer for Capitol View Elementary, an Atlanta public school. It was during this time that Jessica discovered her passion for gardening and enthusiasm for Girl-Scouting.
During Jessica’s first two years at the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, she has been actively involved in local organizations such as the Georgia Association of Nursing Students (GANS), Emory International Student Nurses Association (EISNA), Girl Scouts of America, and Health Students Taking Action Together (HealthSTAT). She served as the community service director for GANS, seeking to engage nursing students throughout Georgia in community health and public service opportunities. Jessica was thankful to be involved in EISNA, which seeks to promote global health awareness through lunch-and-learns, fundraisers, international events, and dinners-around-the-world. Closer to home, she just finished her third year as a troop leader for the Girl Scouts, continuously inspired by each girl’s resiliency. Currently, Jessica is serving on the board of directors for HealthSTAT, a student-run, not-for-profit that engages healthcare professional students in issues facing Georgia; this multiprofessional organization facilitates HIV/AIDS advocacy, childhood obesity prevention, and access to healthcare initiatives.
Through her experiences with HealthSTAT and the Alberta Exchange, Jessica remains committed to enhancing access to equitable healthcare through creative solutions and collaborative partnerships. During her graduate study as an Adult Nurse Practitioner and in Global Health, Jessica is working as a nurse in the emergency department at South Fulton Medical Center. She hopes to work in the field of global health on infectious disease programming and evaluation initiatives, as well as an educator in training up the nursing workforce to empower nationals to address their country's healthcare needs.
Reflection on the Fellowship
During my time at Emory, the Fuld fellowship has enabled me to better understand present disparities in healthcare and models for expanding access to care. Through participating in the Farm Worker Family Health Program, we combined innovative practices and community partnerships to break down barriers and enhance health among migrant farm workers in Georgia. The fellowship also allowed me to travel to Jamaica, observing the delivery of healthcare via faith-based organizations and to Alberta, Canada, studying models of national health insurance coverage. This fellowship has allowed me to participate in Health Students Taking Action Together, an interdisciplinary student-run non-profit, where students are empowered to become patient advocates at the policy level. The Fuld fellowship has cultivated my understanding of how nursing can enhance the health of vulnerable populations from the bedside to the legislature.
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