About Liz
Liz Korkis was a bright light in this world who only wanted to serve others. Since 2010, Liz dedicated herself to this mission – first serving as a hospice nurse and LVN before obtaining her Bachelors in Nursing and becoming a Registered Nurse in 2016.
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Liz’s work as an RN was interrupted when she was diagnosed with cancer in January of 2018. Once in remission, Liz sought to restart her work as an RN at Torrance Memorial Medical Center in their New Graduate Program. Competing against many applicants, Liz’s hard work, charisma, life-story, and compassion for others earned her one of the coveted spots in the program. TMMC saw something in Liz.
Starting in the new grad program at TMMC was not only an amazing opportunity for her career but it also symbolized a new beginning for Liz’s life post cancer. From day one, Liz raved about the people at TMMC; it was not only a place to work, but TMMC quickly became a community and family. Liz was in awe, regularly speaking about how grateful she was to be at TMMC. As she described it, she was “where [she was] supposed to be.”
Three months into the program, Liz was diagnosed with a cancer recurrence. Liz was beyond devastated but prepared to fight. Within days of her recurrence being diagnosed, Liz would undergo surgery and start chemo shortly thereafter. Despite the magnitude of being re-diagnosed, TMMC continued to serve as a family to Liz, supporting her not only initially but throughout her entire battle with cancer.
In May 2020, Liz’s experience at TMMC came full circle when she became a patient at TMMC in her last days. The staff at TMMC made an excruciating stay bearable. The TMMC staff knew Liz from her time as an employee, taking care of “their own” ; she even had a few nurses from her New Graduate Program class care for her. That care and love will forever be cherished by Liz’s family.
In Liz’s honor, the Liz Korkis Memorial Fund has been created to provide scholarships to graduates of the TMMC New Graduate Program to help reduce their nursing education debt. Liz dedicated her life to helping others – the Liz Korkis Memorial Fund will not only continue to allow Liz to help others posthumously, but help those who cared for her during her hardest times – nothing would make Liz more happy.
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Our Mission
We are dedicated to assisting nurses at Torrance Memorial Medical Center erase their educational debt, allowing them to focus on their life’s goal: helping those in need.
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Our Recipients
2024
Charina Villanueva
2024
Chelsea Fitzsimmons
2024
Ivane Pantig
2024
Junnel Leones
2024
Vanessa Calimquim
2023
Natalie Castellanos
2023
Dillon Demond
2023
Christopher Alanis
May 2022
Bernadette Lawlor
May 2022
Chelsea Wilson
May 2022
Jessica Miller
May 2022
Nikole Lina
Dec 2020
Louisa Bakker
Dec 2020
Sean McCoy
Dec 2020
Margie Monterrey
Dec 2020
Kristin Gutierrez