“I am excited to become part of the health care field and make more tomorrows happen for everyone.”
— Lisa Robinson, recipient of the 2012 Naibert Scholarship
Out of tragedy, some people are driven toward change, others to acceptance.
Lisa Robinson was still in high school when her dad was diagnosed with colon cancer. A volleyball standout at Philomath and an aspiring college athlete, she already paid close attention to what she ate and how it affected her body. Her dad’s illness made her acutely aware of how food can contribute to and also prevent disease.
“Unfortunately, my dad lost the battle, but it fueled my desire to help fight cancer and find a cure,” Robinson said. “I wanted to be a microbiologist or a chemist and spend my time in a lab searching for a way to stop mutant cells.” Then her focus turned to nutrition.
“I switched my attention from the lab idea of fixing the problem after it manifests to preventing the problem before it arises,” she said. “I began to dream of a world where everyone ate well, played, laughed and was free of disease.”
But it was a different trial that would lead her on a path of acceptance of the limitations of proper nutrition. Robinson’s husband, Kurt, has cystic fibrosis, and recently underwent a double lung transplant surgery.
“Though I wish it were so, I know that food cannot fix every disease,” Robinson said. “A genetic disease diagnosed at birth cannot be eliminated by simply eating your vegetables and walking 30 minutes a day.”
Through caring for her husband, she also learned the importance of personalized care that fits the needs of a patient.
“Health care is more than looking at charts and diagnosing problems,” Robinson said. “It also involves caring, kindness, understanding and patience. “Simply taking the time to smile and ask how a patient’s day is going makes a huge difference.”
Robinson is inspired to make a difference in people’s lives and is pursuing a post-baccalaureate degree in nutrition at Oregon State University, with help from The Corvallis Clinic Foundation. She is among the recipients of scholarships awarded to college and high school students to support the education of future doctors, nurses and other professionals in health-related careers. Robinson received the James R. Naibert Scholarship, named in honor of Dr. Naibert, who works in the Immediate Care Center at The Corvallis Clinic. The $1,000 scholarship is for students studying to work in a health-related profession involving direct patient care.
Robinson works as a youth volleyball coach and as a student health promotions assistant at OSU Student Health Center, where she coordinated cooking classes to teach students basic cooking skills. She also volunteers with the Student Dietetics Association, OSU’s Benton County Extension Office and Jackson Street Youth Shelter. These activities include cooking with youth, presenting information about healthy drinks to high schoolers and reading to children about nutrition.
Through her studies, the focus of her goal has sharpened around teaching kids the importance of physical activity and
eating right. She wants to develop a nutrition curriculum for schools.
“By teaching kids that eating well and exercising will make them more successful at what they love to do, from sports to crafts to living life, I hope to help them create new healthy habits,” Robinson said.
“I am excited to become part of the health care field and make more tomorrows happen for everyone.”