CCAA Hometown Heroes is a look at current and former CCAA student-athletes and staff who are now on the front lines in the worldwide fight against COVID-19.  Individuals from CCAA member institutions have answered the call to help battle the pandemic, whether it be in the field of healthcare, as a first responder, through volunteer efforts or a variety of other essential services being performed throughout communities around the state and globe. 

Today, we feature newly-minted registered nurse Emily Mardon, a 2015 graduate of Cal State San Bernardino and Coyotes women’s soccer alumna. Mardon entered the fray as a registered nurse in the emergency department at Redlands Community Hospital just when her community needed her most.

“My first year as a nurse and I am working in the midst of a world-wide pandemic,” Mardon reflects. “To say my life has changed in 2020 is an understatement!”

Thrown right into the proverbial fire, Mardon is one of the initial points of contact for patients heading into the ER for a gamut of health issues.

“Being in the ER, we are the first line of defense for these patients,” she notes. “As a team we work together to assess the needs of the patient and prioritize their care. Once the patient is stabilized they will either be discharged or transferred to another unit for a longer hospital stay.”

Her inspiration in this new profession is two fold - those she loves and those she serves.

“In addition to my family and friends being my motivators, I am also most motivated by the patients,” Mardon explains. “I get the privilege of being with patients during some of their most vulnerable times. I fight for them when they can't fight for themselves.”

Mardon is relying on skills she learned on the pitch at Cal State San Bernardino as she integrates herself into her new team of professionals.

“Playing soccer at the collegiate level taught me the importance of teamwork and how to be versatile,” she says. “In the emergency room it is imperative to work as a team to ensure the best possible care for all patients. Being a versatile member of that team is also very important because the ER is a fast paced environment and things are constantly evolving.”

The CCAA salutes Emily and all those serving on the front lines in our hospital systems around the state and country, and all of our CCAA Hometown Heroes!