Announcing The 2023-2024 J&J/NEF Health Equity Scholarship Recipients

Five exceptional doctoral nursing students each received a $10,000 Johnson & Johnson/NEF Health Equity Scholarship this summer. They are:

• Sharren Burney, a PhD candidate at Boston College Connell School of Nursing. Her research investigates the role of hospital environments in shaping diabetes outcomes among vulnerable populations.
• Christine “Charlie” Hawknuff, a Doctor of Nursing Practice at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the DNP/MBA dual track and a Post-Master’s Certificate student in Nursing Education. She discovered her passion for work in the equity and inclusivity sphere serving in two leadership positions in large emergency departments that serve diverse communities.
• Laura Mata Lopez is pursuing a PhD at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. Born and raised in Costa Rica, her practice and research are informed by stories of hardship and resilience passed down by generations of women in her family, and those entrusted to her by patients.
• Paula Tucker, DNP is a 3rd year Ph.D. student at Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. At a young age, Paula possessed a desire to care for those in need as well as compassion and empathy for vulnerable populations. Her research focuses on predictors of functional recovery among patients with traumatic brain injury.
• Roque Anthony Velasco is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus College of Nursing. His long-term goal is to build a research program to explore the interrelationship between the experience of multilevel stigma and primary care access on the health and health-related experiences of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) older adults.

The full biographies of each of these outstanding scholars can be located by clicking “Scholars” on the homepage Menu.