If you want to know how to prepare for a career in the complex world of health care, you might want to look at Janelle Amoako’s resume. The spring 2015 graduate packed her URI years with jobs, internships and volunteer experiences that furthered her nursing education. All that work has paid off in a job in a medical-surgical unit at The Miriam Hospital in Providence.

It’s a great fit for the Cranston resident who wanted to start her career in just such a unit. She also sees community and international health in her future because of her family’s heritage in Ghana.

Her extensive involvement on campus helped ease her transition to URI. “When I came in as a freshman, I didn’t know how I was going to fit in. I was worried about how I would do academically. But once I got involved, opportunities began to open up,” said Janelle, who completed the Hausman Nursing Fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital last summer.

She joined the Student Alliance for the Welfare of Africa, Sankofa Christian Ministry, Campus Ministry International, Campus HOPE, and the Student Nurses Association.

Janelle’s work with nursing faculty led to research opportunities, including a project on aging in place (at home). That experience led to volunteer work at Clinica Esperanza, a free clinic in Providence, and at Hospice Gentiva in Warwick. She also completed a nursing directed study program in the Dominican Republic.

“I have always loved working with disadvantaged groups. I find when you work with these groups, you have to be in the community, with the homeless, those with addiction issues and immigrants. I am up for the challenge.”