American Nurses Foundation Announces Recipients of Landmark Scholarship Program for Minority Nurse Leaders

“Scholars for Change” Sponsors Attendance at the Annual ANCC National Magnet Conference® and Pathway to Excellence Conference®

SILVER SPRING, MD – Today, the American Nurses Foundation (ANF) announced the 2024 recipients of a pioneering, scholarship program developed in partnership with Stryker, a leading global medical technology company. It’s called the Scholars for Change program and it takes effect on the first day of the ANCC National Magnet Conference® and Pathway to Excellence Conference® held this year in New Orleans, Louisiana on October 30 – November 1. This unique program was created to intentionally engage and support nurse leaders of color to positively influence their organizations with the Magnet Recognition Program and Pathway to Excellence professional standards of practice.

These scholarships offer valuable experiences for talented yet culturally underrepresented nurse leaders to attend the Magnet/Pathway Conference, all expenses paid, who otherwise would not be afforded the opportunity. The purpose is to enrich and prepare these leaders through the education, resources and mentoring available at the conference. This year, 17 scholarships were generously awarded to the following nurses who received special recognition at the Foundation’s annual President’s Dinner:

1. Sadie Anderson, MSN-FNP, RN, Director of Nursing at Alaska Native Medical Center
2. Valenchia Brown, DNP, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, CIC, Clinical Research Advanced Practice Provider at the Institute for Health Equity, Norton Healthcare System
3. Karol Dorsey, MS, BSN, RN, Director Nursing Practice and Operations at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital
4. Jazmine Ferguson, MSN, RN, WHNP-BC, Magnet Coordinator at Medstar
5. Mechem Fraiser, MBA, BSN, RN, Administrative Director at Lovelace Medical Group
6. Debora Garcia, BSN, RN, Labor and Delivery - Registered Nurse II at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital   
7. Rashida Henderson, PhD, MBA, RN, CNML, CMSRN, Director of Cultural Excellence at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
8. Connie Henry, DNP, RN, Director of Nursing at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
9. Velma Johnson, MSN-HSAL, RN, Senior Director of Patient Care Services at New Orleans East Hospital
10. Nicola Madou, MSN, MPH, RN, of Health and Hospitals/Woodhull
11. Jamie Najera, MSN RN, Clinical Nurse Educator at Esperanza Health Centers
12. Larider Ruffin, DNP, APN, RN, ANP-BC, AGNP-C, FAANP, FAAN, Chief Executive Officer/Nurse Practitioner at Ruffin Associates Healthy Housecalls
13. Jenny Uguru, DNP, RN, AMB-BC, CLC, GRN, Director of Nursing, Quality Management at New York City Health + Hospitals, Woodhull
14. Ben Valente, BSN, RN, CCRN-CMC, PCCN, Charge Nurse - Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) at Veterans Affairs Health Care System, NC
15. Diana Viscara, RN, RN-Quality Improvement Coordinator at John Muir Health Hospital, CA
16. Mariah Wallace, MBA, BSN, RN, Director/Chair Resuscitation Program at St. Tammany Health System
17. Tammy Woods, BSN, RN, Hospice Staff Nurse II at VA Medical Center – Salisbury, NC

“I am excited and hopeful about this scholarship program that we’re partnering on with Stryker. It’s an excellent way to strategically elevate professional nursing practice and promote the value of nursing in meaningful ways. I am personally inspired by each and every scholarship recipient this year and the potential they hold to positively transform health care delivery within their respective organizations,” said Adriane K. Griffen, DrPH, MPH, MCHES®, Interim Executive Director and Vice President of Programs at the Foundation “This program opens the door for these nurses to take on additional leadership roles and gives them the support and resources they need to be successful.”

The Scholars for Change program was successfully piloted at last year’s conference in Chicago for the first time with 12 recipients who each shared personal accounts of the positive impact of the scholarship on everything from their professional advancement to discovering additional opportunities for growth. Building on the success of the Foundation’s first cohort of scholars, Stryker generously renewed the program this year, expanding it to include 5 additional scholars. The Foundation is actively working to advance programming that connects, promotes, and supports the professional development of all scholarship recipients. To learn more about ANF’s work to advance nursing practice through its various programs, please visit: https://www.nursingworld.org/foundation/about-fnd/

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About American Nurses Foundation
American Nurses Foundation is the charitable and philanthropic arm of the American Nurses Association, with the mission to transform the nation’s health through the power of nursing. The Foundation supports research, education, and scholarships, which improve health, wellness, and patient care. For more information visit www.nursingworld.org/foundation

About the American Nurses Credentialing Center
The mission of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, is to promote excellence in nursing and health care globally through credentialing programs. ANCC's internationally renowned credentialing programs certify and recognize individual nurses in specialty practice areas. ANCC recognizes health care organizations that promote nursing excellence and quality patient outcomes while providing safe, positive work environments. In addition, ANCC accredits health care organizations that provide and approve continuing nursing education and accredits transition-to-practice programs that prepare nurses for new practice roles. For more information about ANCC, visit us at nursingworld.org/ANCC and follow us on Twitter. ANCC is the only nurse credentialing organization to successfully achieve ISO 9001: 2015 certification.