Ivy Buena's Portfolio Showcase

This webpage is a showcase of Ivy Buena's most recent projects, colleagues, and undergraduate/ graduate accomplishments. My greatest strength lies in helping others and serving as a resource. I believe in the power of service, an organizational structure, and the ability to impact other people's lives. Capable of programming, administrative skills, registration & admissions, event planning, fundraising, student development, customer service, tessitura and epic health database.

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2026 is the year I was selected and become Co-Chair of Boston Children’s Asian Pacific Islander Collaborative (APIC). In the past, I helped initiate a symposium for Tufts School of Medicine Community Health Worker Symposium, created Day In A Life Videos for Startup Boston, integrated Zumba and feature presentations at Avita Stonebridge. This time I helped create a path for APIC leadership, something that nobody’s ever done before. A Fireside Chat Panel featuring two phenomenal panelists, collaboration with Workforce Well-being for guided meditation and chair yoga, a 5k AAPI, and an end of the month celebration at Harvard Square Asian Festival.

Our attendance is usually about 7-8people on average, Fireside Chat panel had a total of 19 attendees that stayed from start to finish, slowly building a community, and utilizing my arts administration skill sets from Boston University and healthcare experiences from Beth Israel to Mass General. Grateful to be working with a team of women, who are ready to take on events, learn and lean on another.

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Summer 2025:

✅Completed a 6-week virtual Cancer Survivorship in rural Massachusetts, presented by Project Echo Series with case based learning model presentations from physicians and community organizers providing survivorship care and feedback from experts. I presented 2 case presentations regarding liver cancer patient and 18 year old college student diagnosed with germ tumor ( brain cancer). Discussed social determinants of Heath and resources to provide for patients. Highlighted how can we alleviate family members distress and wellness moving forward.

✅Attended Asian Women’s Health: 15th Annual Mental Health Forum at Northeastern University- Creative Connections - Strengthening community and mental well-being thru the power of arts and culture.

Started my new position at Boston Children’s Endocrinology - Program Administrator for Neuroendocrine.

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There are some challenging days, stress and demands are high, it’s always good to have great coworkers to help you keep going. Harvard Beer Garden, Tater Tots/ Cider and Birthday Celebrations. I spend 75% a majority of my life working at MA General Brigham, and the other 25% time spent with friends and family. So grateful for coworkers that keep me grounded.

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Stumbled upon this on social media. I use to be the substitute teacher for Saint Mary’s School 1st grade class back in Hoquiam, Washington. This was my all time favorite class in teaching, and the above picture is their senior year of high school. I cannot believe how much time has flown by, how much they have grown.

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Meet my younger sister Geraldine Lorbes, aka Gel. Bachelor’s Degree in Music from UMASS Lowell, Master’s of Science in Behavior Analyst, and now a Professional Board Certified Analyst Manager and working with children who have disabilities. This past year she just got married and just recorded 2 original songs. New music video was just released! Check out my sister when we used to record with our voice teacher,“The Girl I Mean To Be,” to present day.

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Meet my family, we emigrated to the US during the winter of 1995, I was 6 years old and my younger sister was 3 years of age. English was not our first language. Little did I know that America was going to be my permanent home. We’ve come along way, traveled to different places, and have made our marks in our jobs. My mother working with elders who are diagnosed with dementia/ Alzheimer’s, my sister Master’s graduate as a Behavior Analyst working with children who have disabilities, my dad retired and worked at Bristol Myers Squibb- Global Biopharmaceutical Company, and me at Mass General Brigham- Gastroenterology Clinic.

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Throwback to my AmeriCorps- Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest year of service. Co-teacher for Preschool with Ms. Gwinn.

We asked our preschoolers, what would you like to be when you grow up? And these were the immediate responses we received back then. Here we are 11 years later!

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It's been quite a busy summer indeed, I have been back at Stonebridge Assisted Living since February 2024. Although I am busy working in the hospital Monday- Friday, I still pick up a part time shift every other Sunday with my Avita residents. Singing along show tunes, feature presentations on their favorite artists/movies, and integrating zumba dancing.

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✅2000 hours of community healthcare internship ( Assisted Living, Nursing Home, Beth Israel Primary Care Clinic, Asian Women’s Health Nonprofit, Mass General Brigham- Emergency Dept., and Mass General Brigham- Gastroenterology Clinic)

✅80 hours of virtual/ inperson classes at Tufts University COHERE

✅Facilitated a presentation on: Elderly Care Assessments and Nutritional Facts 101

✅Coordinator of 2023 Tufts COHERE 1st Annual Symposium ( Recruited speakers, initiated panels/ programs, set up eventbrite, and organized food donations)

✅Community Health Worker training in Clinical Research from New York University Langone Health

✅Certified Youth & Adult Mental Health First Aid and CPR training

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One of the events I miss at Boston University Arts Initiative is our annual BU Fall Arts Fair. As the organizer, we reached out to all internal and external arts organizations within the Boston area. My role during the day off, organize the fair, assign organizations to each table, ensure that everything is running smoothly during the day of the event. September was our busiest months, not only did I help plan for a Global Music Festival and an arts fair, I also volunteered for José Mateo’s Dance For World Community and fall Saturday events.

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And just like that this semester is over! Had the pleasure of working alongside Tufts University Instructor Albert Pless as his teaching assistant for Johnson & Whales University Advocating for Healthier Diets. Food connects us all, and incited satisfaction and affects our overall health. Food insecurity is an ongoing issue that’s been globally. I’ve spent the past 5 months creating weekly presentations and coming up with interactive food systems discussions and activities for this class. Food for thought: what type of coalition would you focus? What issues do you want to solve, so we don’t keep repeating the same patterns over and over?if you were to present at a national conference, what topics would you facilitate? And if you were a restaurant manager what would you add to the menu to integrate healthier options?

The 7 minute presentations yesterday were quite impressive. Concise, thorough, and direct to the point focusing Food Deserts and Food Insecurity.

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Public speaking is not my biggest forte, but for some reason when I have to play a character or recite a monologue, it comes very natural. Public speaking I tend to stutter or need to have notes to hold onto.

Lately, I volunteered to speak about these topics: Community Health Worker: Core Competency #2 ( Assessments/ Senior Care) and Nutritional Foods 101 for Tufts Cohere Program. In the past, I presented for Art As A Tool for Healing for Asian Women’s Health, Student Well-being and the Arts: Nurturing Creativity to Promote Wellness at NASPA 2023, and Smashing Stereotypes for Wheelock Community Day.

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It’s a wrap- Tufts University COHERE 2023 1st Annual Symposium - done!

✅ 47 registered attendees

✅ 8 Local Food Donations/ Giftcards

✅14 incredible speakers

Reunited with COHERE 2023 cohort.

Assisted in planning, super grateful for the response and outcome.

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Here’s to an organization I support year after year Walk To End Alzheimer’s Association. Year n#4, as Co-captain during my first year in 2017, participated during the Longest Day and gathered everybody together for a cookout, walking my own path at Breakheart Reservation during covid, and years of raising $2500+ with a team.

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So, what have I been doing this past summer? There’s been major changes in my life, I’ve been single after 3 years of a relationship, I wanted to transition from higher education and focus my attention on healthcare. I took a course at Tufts University COHERE Program as a potential community health worker, spent quite some time getting certified as mental health first aid trainer and community health worker training in clinical research. I decided to take a break from Startup Boston and volunteer at Mass General Hospital Emergency Department, while working full time day job at the Gastroenterology Clinic as Patient Coordinator II. My plates been quite full diving into this work. It’s been quite an experience, will see what the future holds.

#chw #heathcare #emergencydepartment

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Cheers 🥂 to family celebrations, progress, growth, and careers in healthcare.

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Officially completed 80 hours of Tufts University School of Medicine- ( COHERE) Community Health Worker Program, which will be implied to my new position at Mass General Hospital- Gastroenterology.