Genevieve (Ginny) Bliss ’08
Why this Organization/Cause is Important to You or the Nominee
Ginny Bliss is a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurse and an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in San Diego. A passionate advocate for premature babies and their families, she is known for her selflessness and caring nature.
After graduating from LMU in 2008, Bliss volunteered in Tanzania, where she taught reproductive health and wellness. That experience left a lasting impact on her, and she recently felt called to return to Tanzania, this time with her advanced skills.
To prepare for her trip, Bliss saved her personal time off and funded her journey to work with an organization that collaborates with local hospitals. She is currently partnering with a local NICU team to improve health outcomes for vulnerable infants and their families. Her dedication to helping others continues to inspire those around her.
Length of Service with the Organization/Cause
2009–Present
Share Advice to Guide Students Hoping to Pursue a Career with Social Impact or in Nonprofit Industries
I volunteer with a hospital in Northern Tanzania called FAME Africa. The organization’s goal is to advance quality healthcare in rural Tanzania, focusing on ensuring volunteers provide sustainable education to Tanzanian staff to further their healthcare needs. Babies and education have always been my passion — and being a NICU nurse blends those two worlds perfectly! Global health has been a long interest of mine, and it's incredibly rewarding to help empower staff nurses to provide quality care in higher areas of need. It's a trek to get to Tanzania, so my goal is to go once every year to a few years and remain in contact with the hospital stateside.
Small moments can lead to bigger life events. Coincidentally, LMU played a small role in my journey to working with this organization. My senior year of LMU, I worked on an abstract with Dr. Hawley Almstedt regarding best nutrition practices for HIV-positive children in rural Africa. This sparked an interest in volunteering in East Africa, where after graduation I volunteered and worked in Tanzania running HIV awareness campaigns in rural villages and assisting with preventative HIV care. That experience solidified my goal to become a nurse and sparked a lifelong passion for global health. You never know where life will take you, so taking the time to evaluate what motivates you most can lead to the most amazing opportunities.
How Can Others Help or Get Involved
FAME is seeking qualified healthcare volunteers who are flexible, adaptable, and ready for the challenge of implementing healthcare in a rural setting. Interested volunteers should be ready to educate, as the goal is not just providing hands on care, but empowering Tanzanian staff to provide sustainable, patient-centered care. I am happy to be in touch with anyone interested to connect them with the organization or learn more at https://fameafrica.org/volunteer-with-us.