For the fourth consecutive year, UAB School of Nursing doctoral students have received Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholars program funding to help develop a new generation of PhD-prepared nurse leaders to transform America’s health care system.
This year marks final year of the RWJF program nationally. The incoming scholars are Corey Lofton, BSN, RN, and Bailey Hendricks, BSN, RN, who both recently earned their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees from the UAB School of Nursing and graduated from the School’s Honors Program.
Funding from the program will support their studies by providing Hendricks and Lofton a $75,000 scholarship to pursue their doctoral studies and the leadership, research and other skills needed to take their nursing careers to the highest levels.
The late Karen Meneses, PhD, RN, FAAN, Professor and Associate Dean for Research, was instrumental in bringing the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholars funding to the UAB School of Nursing four years ago, leveraging money available for scholarships within the School and matching it with the RWJF funds.
"As a result of her efforts, the PhD Program has funded a total of nine RWJF Fellows, who will generate nursing science and serve as the next generation of nurse leaders," said Associate Professor and Director of the PhD Program Karen Heaton, PhD, CRNP, FNNP-BC, FAAOHN, FAAN. "These nine fellows are a part of the wonderful legacy Dr. Meneses left and her spirit will live on in each of them as it does all who were fortunate to call her mentor, colleague and friend."
