American Academy of Nursing Announces Third Cohort of Nursing Students Selected as Academy Jonas Policy Scholars
Funded by the Jonas Center, Program Connects Emerging Scholars with Nurse Leaders on Academy Expert Panels
WASHINGTON, DC (August 31, 2016) – The American Academy of Nursing today announced the third cohort of individuals selected to participate in its Academy Jonas Policy Scholars Program. Funded by the Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare, the program recruits highly qualified doctoral and post-doctoral nursing students for a two-year fellowship experience. Each scholar is matched with an Academy Expert Panel where they have the opportunity to learn about major health policy issues from leading nursing experts.
“The Academy Jonas Policy Scholar program is a rich opportunity that teams seasoned nursing students with expert nurse leaders to consider important policy issues that have been collectively established as priorities by Academy Fellows,” said Academy President, Bobbie Berkowitz, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. “The Academy is grateful to the Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare for making this outstanding program possible. We look forward to the collaborative energy that will occur this year as these outstanding scholars connect with accomplished leaders to drive positive change within their fields.”
“Preparing nurses to make strong and discerning health policy recommendations is central to the Jonas Center’s mission to improve healthcare through nursing. The Academy Jonas Policy Scholars have gained critical insights into clinical and patient issues – a frontline view that is now needed at the policy table to ensure quality, cost-effective and accessible healthcare,” said Darlene Curley, MS, RN, CEO, Jonas Family Fund and Executive Director, Jonas Center. “The Jonas Center is pleased to welcome six new scholars to this exciting opportunity to make a positive impact on health policy.”
The new cohort of Jonas Policy Scholars will serve from 2016-2018 and are listed with their university and corresponding Academy Expert Panel:
- Jocelyn Anderson, PhD, RN, FNE-A, SANE-A; University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; Violence Expert Panel
- Veronica Barcelona de Mendoza, PhD, MSN, MPH, RN, APHN-BC; Yale School of Nursing; Genetic Nursing & Healthcare Expert Panel
- Desiree Bertrand, MSN, RN; Medical University of South Carolina; Cultural Competence & Health Equity Expert Panel
- Jordon Bosse, MS, RN; University of Massachusetts Amherst, College of Nursing; Primary Care Expert Panel
- Melissa Kurtz, MSN, MA, RN; Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing; Breast Feeding Expert Panel
- Stephen McGhee, Msc, Bsc, PGCE, RN; University of South Florida, College of Nursing; Military & Veterans Health Expert Panel
Launched in 2014, the program selects Jonas Policy Scholars based on evidence of scholarship, including publications, presentations, honors and awards; evidence of leadership experience; and match between the applicant’s interest area and at least one healthcare issue addressed through the Expert Panels. The first cohort (2014-2016) consisted of six Jonas Policy Scholars and the second cohort (2015-2017) had seven.
Expert Panels are one of the major forces within the Academy for developing new knowledge, promoting collaboration, and shaping policy. Each of the Academy’s 24 Experts Panels are comprised of experts with a policy focus on specific healthcare topics, providing the Academy the ability to identify and address current and emerging issues within the nursing profession and public health sphere. The Expert Panels advance evidence based innovations in healthcare delivery to address the health needs of populations, including diverse, at-risk, and disenfranchised populations.
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About the American Academy or Nursing
The American Academy of Nursing serves the public and the nursing profession by advancing health policy and practice through the generation, synthesis, and dissemination of nursing knowledge. The Academy’s more than 2,400 Fellows are nursing’s most accomplished leaders in education, management, practice, policy, and research. They have been recognized for their extraordinary contributions to nursing and healthcare.
About the Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare
In 2006, Barbara and Donald Jonas established the Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare, the leading national philanthropic funder dedicated to improving healthcare by advancing nursing scholarship, leadership and innovation. Its two main programs are the Jonas Nurse Leaders Scholar Program, which aims to address the dire shortage of nursing faculty by preparing nurses with doctoral degrees to step into this critical role, and the Jonas Veterans Healthcare Program, which seeks to improve the health of veterans by supporting doctoral-level nursing candidates committed to advancing veterans’ healthcare. These programs currently support more than 1,000 doctoral Nurse Scholars nationwide.