News Releases

Eight University of Maryland School of Nursing Doctoral Candidates Selected as Jonas Nurse Leader Scholars

June 30, 2014

Program aims to increase number of doctoral-prepared faculty members and advance practice nurses.

Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) is pleased to announce that it has been chosen by the Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare to participate in the Jonas Nurse Leaders Scholar Program. Eight UMSON doctoral students will be provided with financial assistance, leadership development, and networking support through the Program.

PhD students Lauren Bently, MS '12, RN, and Elizabeth Heetderks, ACNP, were selected PhD Jonas Nurse Leader Scholars. Doctor of Nursing Practice students Sharon Smith, MS, RN, OCN, CCRP, FNE, Christine Simon-Waterman, MSN, RN, CRNP, and Linda Murray, MS ‘84, CRNP-Ped, a clinical instructor at UMSON, were named Jonas-Blaustein Nurse Leader Scholars.  PhD students Irene Akande, MSN, MS, BSN ’05, Valerie Dernetz, MA, BSN ’02, RN, and Marik Moen, MSN, MPH, RN, an assistant professor at UMSON, were named Jonas Veterans Healthcare Scholars.

Supported by the Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare, the program aims to increase the number of doctoral-prepared faculty members to teach in nursing schools nationwide and advance practice nurses to provide direct patient care.  Jonas Scholars will receive a total of $10,000 from 2014-2016, which will be used for tuition and other academic costs. The Program will support a total of 250 Scholars—100 students for the Jonas Veterans Healthcare Program and 150 as Nurse Leader Scholars. 

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The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.