Dr. Charles Hamlin, a renowned orthopedic hand surgeon and humanitarian, passed away on January 14, 2026. Among his copious accomplishments, he started a clinic in Colorado to improve the hand functionality of patients with spinal cord and brain injuries, and founded the Chinle Hand Clinic, which provided surgical services to people from the Navajo Nation at no cost.

An NEF scholarship was created in his name in 2021, with the help of board member Cynthia Sculco, and awarded in 2022 to Zachary Taylor, in 2023 to Catherine Stephens, in 2024 to Jason Bloomquist, and in 2025 to Lizzet Carmona. The award furthers Dr. Hamlin’s priorities: the study and care of people of diverse cultures; the specialty of orthopedic nursing care; and the prevention of burnout for all healthcare professionals.

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Created in 2023 and fully funded in 2026, the Susan Bowar-Ferres Scholarship is devoted to nursing leadership in the Magnet Recognition Program, which recognizes healthcare organizations for quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovations in professional nursing practice. Consumers rely on Magnet designation as the ultimate credential for high-quality nursing.

Susan Bowar-Ferres, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, is an Emeritus NEF Board Member who has dedicated many years of service to the NEF Board of Directors, as President of NEF as well as Chair of the Bylaws Committee. Under her leadership as the Chief Nursing Officer, NYU Langone Medical Center earned two successive Magnet designations. Dr. Bowar-Ferres is dedicated to excellence in practice and all that Magnet recognition means. The Susan Bowar-Ferres Scholar shares these values and aspirations.

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NEF is pleased to announce Virginia “Ginger” Berman, BS, MA, has joined the organization as Executive Director, and Melinda Kretschmer, BS, MEd, has joined as Executive Assistant. Former Executive Director Jerelyn Peixoto Weiss, MS, JD, RN, FNP, has retired and will rejoin NEF’s Board of Directors in June 2026.

Ginger has collaborated with leaders for over 20 years to accomplish extraordinary marketing and fundraising projects.

Melinda has extensive experience in administrative management, customer support, higher education, and program coordination.

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The American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the American Nurses Association, the National League for Nursing, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, the American College of Nurse-Midwives, and the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners are leading the effort to ensure nursing is recognized as a professional degree as the Department of Education advances new proposed definitions that will determine federal loan limits.

Protect post-baccalaureate nursing students’ access to essential federal loans and ensure that the Department recognizes nursing as a professional degree by following the link below.

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For over 100 years, NEF has funded scholarships for master's and doctoral nursing degrees, thanks to the generosity of our donors. Join our community of supporters by donating today!

Learn more about our permanent scholarships or contact Ginger Berman, Executive Director, gberman@n-e-f.org, for information about other giving opportunities.

NEF is a 501(c)3 organization; your contribution is tax-deductible.

NEF's mission is to promote leadership and health equity through scholarship support for professional nurses seeking master’s and doctoral degrees in nursing education, practice, service and research.

NEF's vision is to be a national leader in providing scholarships to nurses that benefit nursing, health care and the global community.