Mom: A Nurse's Legacy, A Family's Foundation with Emmy Ramos, RN

This episode is deeply personal.For most of my adult life, the holidays were spent working, studying, or just trying to survive. But this year, I did something different—I sat down with someone who’s been a guiding force in my life: my grandmother, Emmy Ramos.She’s a registered nurse with over 50 years of experience. Trained in the Philippines, Emmy went on to serve in the U.S. Army, work in public health, and care for patients across med-surg, labor and delivery, psych, and more. From Chicago’s Cook County Hospital to the very hospital where I was born—she’s seen it all.But for me, she wasn’t just a nurse. She was “Mom.” The one who raised me when my own parents couldn’t. The one who gave me my flu shots, cooked dinner every night, and modeled what it means to serve others with compassion and strength.In this conversation, we talk about immigration, cultural transition, family legacy, and what it really means to care—both in and out of scrubs. This is more than a nursing story. It’s a family story. And a tribute to a woman who helped shape my purpose.Send us Fan MailHeads Up: The conversations on Scrub Talk are meant to inform and inspire, not replace medical advice. The voices on this show — including mine — come with strong professional backgrounds and even stronger opinions. That doesn't mean anything you hear is medical guidance for your specific situation. Always talk to your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider about your own health. We're here to explore, not prescribe.