In The News

Ruth Hines

Ruth Hines, coordinator of student health services at Roxbury Community College (RCC), was recently named the 2008 recipient of the Clara Barton Service to Humanity Award by the Emmanuel College RN to BSN Nursing Program.

Named after the Civil War nurse and first woman president of the National Red Cross, the award recognizes “a nurse who combines Barton’s zeal of serving others with the commitment to significantly contribute to professional and civic communities.”

Hines has been a Red Cross volunteer for over 20 years, teaching CPR and the Heimlich maneuver to the staff at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center at RCC.

As coordinator of student health services at RCC since 1979, Hines’ responsibilities include patient care and health and wellness education. She also serves as a teacher for RCC graduate students enrolled in the Emmanuel College RN to BS in Nursing Program, and teaches a health and wellness class for new students that covers topics like stress management and HIV/AIDS/STD prevention.

Hines works with the Health Care Careers Academy at Northeastern University, allowing high school students to shadow her as she goes about her daily duties. She is also a volunteer internship supervisor for students enrolled in RCC’s Medical Office Specialist Program.

Though she initially had dreams of becoming “an accountant and rich by age 30,” after a career test “pointed [her] toward nursing,” Hines enrolled in the Catherine Labouré School of Nursing at Carney Hospital in Boston, graduating with a nursing diploma in 1967. She later graduated cum laude in 1976 with a B.S. in nursing from Howard University.

The longtime South End resident said working at RCC “allows me to provide information to a population that experiences many health disparities.”

“Roxbury Community College is a great place to work,” she said. “Not many people in life get to work at a job they love.”

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Mar 2 1:21am by florene litthcut nichols [184.32.197.120]

May 1, 2013

I was so pleased to read about the wonderful accomplishments of my dear childhood friend, nurse Ruth (Ruthy) Hines.

As children/young women, our parents raised us in the Southend. Ruthy's family on Columbus Avenue and the Litthcut's

on Concord Square. We were childhood friends...went to Winning Farm Camp in Woburn, Mass for many summers,

we were members of the Velours social club headed by Mel "uncle Mel" king and Glady's Gussen, at the United South End

Settlements on Rutland Square. Ruthie was a quiet storm....very smart, level headed, lady-like, athletic and a leader.

She was one of the Clean Up, Paint-Up, Fix-Up poster contest winners. Her picture can be seen in the Southend of Boston book.

I have always admired her. Although I live in Miami, Florida, whenever I come home to the Southend, fate has a way for our paths to cross.

Please give Ruthy my best regards and congratulations!

Florene Litthcut Nichol