The Rivkin Center’s education program provides free ovarian and breast health education parties (workshops). Instructors educate women about their breast and ovarian health and cancer risks.
Say hello to Olivia Counihan, one of our instructors and former University of Washington campus ambassador.
ABOUT OLIVIA
Where are you from?
I’m from Mercer Island, WA.
Where do you live now/what does a typical day look like for you?
I live in Greenlake. My shifts are from 4pm-4:30am. Each shift, I work in a different part of the ER and see patients of all ages. I deal with everything expect trauma. On my days off, I like to work out, run errands, and meal prep. I also make an effort to travel a lot.
What do you do for fun?
I really enjoy running and typically run 4 miles around Greenlake. Also, my roommates and I love trying new restaurants. I also love to travel.
What is your favorite mantra?
Eat well, travel often.
What is your favorite drink?
I love all types of tea and diet coke.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t stress out about the little things. Looking back, I spent a lot of time stressing about little things that weren’t important.
What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of the fact that I’m a nurse because I love nursing and can’t imagine doing anything else. Also, nursing school was really hard to get into.
Where has been your favorite place to travel?
I loved my trip to Greece. My favorite thing that I’ve ever done was my 6 months abroad. I studied for three months in Spain, and immediately after that, I worked in England for three months.
What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I am both a British and American citizen.
Where do you go to find inspiration?
I am most inspired by the people I surround myself with, like my roommates. Being around my friends and family inspires me to want to do more and improve.
HOW OLIVIA GOT INVOLVED
What inspired you to get involved with Rivkin EDU?
My family history.
What is your favorite memory from a Rivkin EDU party?
The best parties are when the attendees get really involved, ask a lot of questions and show that they want to engage. I love when they challenge me and ask a lot of questions.
How can people help to support someone going through cancer?
It’s really important to talk about it since there’s a huge stigma around the topic of cancer. It’s important to not make people feel like they’re fragile and instead just treat them like they are normal people. Often times when someone has cancer, it overshadows the other aspects of their identity. A cancer patient is so much more than just their cancer, so it’s important to talk to them about things other than cancer while showing that you really care and want to be there for them.
What is the most important thing you want attendees to learn at a Rivkin EDU party?
It’s important for people to know that they can take control of their health. They have the tools to succeed and be proactive about their health.
How many Rivkin EDU parties have you hosted/attended?
More than 20.
How many total attendees have you hosted?
At least several hundred. There are too many for me to count!
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RIVKIN EDU PROGRAM
Want to learn more about becoming an instructor or sharing your story as a survivor? Contact us.