Nevada Cancer Institute and Siemens Foundation Announce 2009 Nursing & Healthcare Professional Scholarship Winners
$100,000 gift funds scholarship program
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jennifer McDonnell, (702) 821-0082 jmcdonnell@nvcancer.org Cem Gunusen, (732) 603-5889 cem.gunusen@siemens.com
Las Vegas – June 24, 2009 – Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI) and Siemens Foundation today announced the Nevada nursing and healthcare students selected as winners of the 2009 Siemens Oncology Scholarship Program.
In 2007, Siemens provided $100,000 to NVCI to fund a scholarship program that aims to increase the number of Nevada students focusing on oncology nursing, basic sciences, biotechnology or public health. The scholarship program also allows currently licensed registered nurses to complete graduate work focusing on oncology nursing.
“As nursing and oncology professionals, these exceptional individuals will contribute in a very vital way to society,” said Jim Whaley, president of the Siemens Foundation. “Siemens is proud to support some of the best and brightest students in Nevada in their efforts to solve major issues facing society.”
One of the scholarships, the John R. Murren, MD Scholarship, is awarded to an academically excellent student enrolled in undergraduate or graduate education in basic sciences, public health or emerging fields of study such as biotechnology, biomedical engineering, statistics or other programs that ultimately enhance oncology and cancer research. Dr. Murren was a founder of NVCI and an oncologist and researcher at Yale University who succumbed to melanoma in December 2005 at age 47.
The other scholarships will be awarded to students who show academic excellence and an interest in oncology nursing.
“The scholarship winners demonstrate an intense passion for knowledge and ambition toward the fight against cancer,” said John C. Ruckdeschel, M.D., NVCI director and chief executive officer. “We could not be happier with the quality of these recipients, and their drive to excel in the nursing and sciences professions.”
Nevada has the worst registered nurse-to- population ratio in the nation, according to a 2007 report from The Kaiser Family Foundation. Nevada had 572 nurses per 100,000 residents. The national average at that time was 824 per 100,000 residents, according to the report.
It is the hope of NVCI and Siemens that through the scholarship program, talent in the healthcare industry can be nurtured at home, enhancing Nevada’s health care industry.
The 2009 Oncology Scholarship recipients are:
Andrea Jydstrup
University of Nevada, Reno
John R. Murren, MD Scholarship
Andrea is working toward a master’s degree in biochemistry, combining her two scientific interests. Using her degree to understand the biology and chemistry of the human body will enable her to join the fight against cancer through the means of oncology drug research. Andrea’s goal is to work as part of the research team that finds the cure for cancer while targeting brain tumor cells.
Susan Weingarten
Touro University – Las Vegas
Nursing Scholarship - RN/ BSN program
Susan is a full-time nursing student dedicated to becoming an oncology nurse. Using her own personal experiences with cancer and as a caregiver for those with cancer, Susan hopes to bring comfort to those battling cancer and make a substantial and hopeful difference in the lives of patients’ and their families.
Debbie Wong
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
John R. Murren, MD Scholarship
Debbie has a bachelor’s degree with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry, and currently is working toward her medical technologist license. She is passionate about the clues that lab results can hold for a patient’s well being. Debbie’s goal is to earn her medical technologist license to better diagnose patients at the outset of an illness.
Mary A. Jeppson
University of Nevada, Reno
Nursing Scholarship – RN/ BSN program
Mary is working toward becoming an oncology nurse after being inspired by the oncology nurses who cared for her daughter. She has been steadfast and determined in reaching her goal, while juggling the demands of family, work and school. Mary’s long-term goal is to become a nurse practitioner.
Sarah Akosua Yao
Touro University – Las Vegas
Nursing Scholarship – RN/ BSN program
Sarah is working toward becoming an oncology nurse, having been influenced by her family’s personal cancer story and cultural beliefs of her native Ghana, South Africa. Sarah is active in the community, writing for a quarterly nursing newsletter, as well as being involved in the group’s community outreach programs. Her goal is to get a nursing degree that not only will allow her to treat those with cancer, but educate people in the U.S. and developing countries.
Tracey B. Long
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Nursing Scholarship – MSN program
Tracy has been a practicing nurse for more than 20 years and currently is working toward her Ph.D. in nursing. Her research interests include oncology, health promotions and teaching effectiveness. Tracy’s goal is to become a nurse educator, effectively giving back to her community now and for generations to come through her expertise, her experience and her education.
For more information about nursing and the national nursing shortage, please visit:
http://www.kaiseredu.org/topics_im.asp?id=138&imID=3&parentID=61
http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/
http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/rnsurvey04/
About Siemens Foundation
The Siemens Foundation provides more than $7 million annually in support of educational initiatives in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math in the United States. Its signature programs, the Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology and Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement, reward exceptional achievement in science, math and technology. The newest program, The Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge, encourages K-12 students to develop innovative green solutions for environmental issues. By supporting outstanding students today, and recognizing the teachers and schools that inspire their excellence, the Foundation helps nurture tomorrow’s scientists and engineers. The Foundation’s mission is based on the culture of innovation, research and educational support that is the hallmark of Siemens’ U.S. companies and its parent company, Siemens AG. For more information, visit www.siemens-foundation.org.
About Siemens
Siemens AG (NYSE: SI) is a global powerhouse in electronics and electrical engineering, and operates in the industry, energy and healthcare sectors. For more than 160 years, Siemens has built a reputation for leading-edge innovation and the quality of its products, services and solutions. With 428,000 employees in 190 countries, Siemens reported worldwide sales of $116.6 billion in fiscal 2008. With its U.S. corporate headquarters in New York City, Siemens in the USA reported sales of $22.4 billion and employs approximately 69,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico. For more information on Siemens in the United States, visit www.usa.siemens.com
About Nevada Cancer Institute
Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI) is the official cancer institute for the State of Nevada. A nonprofit organization, NVCI is committed to reducing the burden of cancer by pursuing the development of a comprehensive cancer research institute, as defined by the National Cancer Institute. Through the knowledge and expertise of the finest scientists, clinicians, educators and caregivers, the Institute provides hope to communities in Nevada, the southwest and beyond through research, education, early detection, prevention and high quality patient care. NVCI is striving for a future without cancer that is achieved through initiated and collaborative research in basic, clinical and population science. For more information, please visit www.nevadacancerinstitute.org or call (702) 822-LIFE.
