Abigail Green Turns Personal Experience into Advocacy

Abigail Green has been named the School of Continuing and Professional Studies’ recipient of the President’s Medallion, which recognizes scholarship, leadership, and service.

For Green, who will graduate in May with her bachelor’s degree in applied psychology, education represents more than earning a degree. It is a lifelong calling that has taken on even deeper meaning during one of her most challenging times.

Green completed her studies from Turin, Italy. After more than a decade teaching English as a foreign language and specializing in early childhood and elementary education, she knew she wanted to continue working with children, but in a different way. Pursuing psychology felt like a natural step toward her long-term goal of becoming a school counselor.

Not long after she began the program, however, her family faced a life-altering challenge when her oldest daughter developed a serious heart condition and was hospitalized for more than a year.

During the long days in the pediatric hospital, Green continued her coursework from Italy while caring for her family. What could have felt isolating became a source of stability for her.

Through Loyola’s online program, Green found meaningful support from faculty, advisors, and classmates—even from afar. Their encouragement helped her remain committed to her studies during this uncertain time.

“At Loyola, hearing experts in their fields emphasize lifelong learning reaffirmed what I already believed and what I want to model for my daughters,” Green reflected. “Throughout all of this, continuing my education became the one thing I was doing purely for myself. When people asked how I was taking care of myself, this was the answer.”

Green says the experience has also shaped how she sees resilience through her daughter’s eyes.

“My daughter has taught me more than I can explain. She lived alongside other children in the hospital, some of whom didn’t survive, and she carries that with an incredible matter-of-fact resilience. She remembers them as friends who are still part of her story. Kids are extraordinary that way.”

Her experience also deepened her understanding of the emotional and psychological challenges families face in long-term hospital settings.

While navigating her daughter’s treatment, Green began searching for support groups for parents facing similar circumstances. When she discovered none existed locally, she decided to create one herself.

In 2024, she founded Heart to Heart, a support group for parents of children awaiting heart transplants or receiving care in pediatric cardiac intensive care units. The group helps families share resources, build connections, and support each other through uncertainty, strengthening community among those facing similar challenges.

“They say it takes a village to raise a child; it also takes a village to save her life,” Green said. “I became determined that families, regardless of their resources, should receive similar support during such an overwhelming time.”

Her advocacy expanded further through her academic work. Collaborating with pediatric cardiology nurses, Green helped develop psychoeducational materials for children and families navigating mechanical heart devices. The hands-on learning tools she designed, such as teddy bears with miniature Berlin Heart devices, have helped demystify procedures and reduce anxiety among young patients and their caregivers.

The project was later presented at the Italian National Pediatric Cardiology Conference, highlighting the importance of accessible education and emotional support for families in pediatric care.

As she prepares to graduate, Green hopes to continue combining education, psychology, and advocacy to support children and families navigating medical challenges, bringing her one step closer to her goal of becoming a school counselor. Her journey reflects Loyola’s Jesuit mission of using knowledge in the service of others—a principle that has guided her studies and inspired her future goals.

“Abigail exemplifies scholarship, leadership, service, and compassion through both academic excellence and heartfelt personal advocacy,” said Eva Mika, PhD, interim associate dean and clinical associate professor. “Her experience has inspired her to speak up for vulnerable children. She now pursues a helping profession where she can give back and support others facing similar challenges.”