Nurse Usman Badaru joins board of school that helped launch his healthcare career
Usman Badaru, a neuro ICU nurse at Rhode Island Hospital, has joined the board of directors at Rhode Island's RINI school. The graduate has already spent several years mentoring students preparing for healthcare careers, the Times of India reports, citing a 10 WJAR feature.
The school has a 12-member board. In his new role, Badaru will contribute to discussions about curriculum, innovation and student support while connecting the school with the medical community. Before his appointment, he spent dozens of hours mentoring young people and helping them understand the steps toward their chosen careers.
Badaru moved to Rhode Island from Nigeria at 13 with his father and older sister. The family settled in Providence but soon lacked permanent housing. They briefly slept in a car before entering a family shelter. Crossroads helped them secure low-income housing.
After a year in public school, Badaru enrolled at the Rhode Island Nurses Institute Middle College Charter High School, known as RINI. His older sister's interest in nursing influenced his choice. The school helped him turn an ambition to work in healthcare into a concrete educational plan.
RINI was established in 2011 to prepare high school students for healthcare careers. The report says more than 700 graduates work in the state's healthcare system. Badaru's return as a mentor and board member continues the connection between the school and clinical practice.
Badaru has worked at Rhode Island Hospital for three years, covering night shifts in the neuro ICU for patients with serious neurological conditions. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, registered nurse credentials, Critical Care Registered Nurse certification and advanced emergency medical training.
The feature connects his mentoring with the support his family received after their move. Badaru now helps students navigate education and healthcare careers, drawing on his own experience of moving from school into hospital work.
