Jessica Zemlak RN, MSN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC is the recipient of the 2020 Cynthia Davis Sculco Scholarship. She is currently a second year PhD candidate at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. Jessica graduated summa cum laude with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She went onto receive her Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner Track, from the same institution.
While working as a Family Nurse Practitioner in underserved communities in Milwaukee, WI, Jessica identified unmet needs for psychiatric services among vulnerable communities she served. She obtained a Post-Master’s Certificate as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from Rush University to help better meet the care needs of her patients. Jessica has practiced as a Nurse Practitioner domestically in various settings and internationally as a Foreign Service Medical Provider to the U.S. Embassy Abuja, Nigeria. Her true clinical passion is caring and advocating for the needs of underserved communities.
Through memberships in Sigma Theta Tau Eta Nu and Nu-Beta at Large chapters, Jessica stays engaged in the nursing scholarly community. She enjoys a leadership role as an American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Graduate Nursing Student Academy Liaison and Advocacy Leader for Johns Hopkins School of Nursing.
Jessica is driven to improve the mental and physical wellbeing of underserved populations. Through nearly 15 years of practice as a Nurse Practitioner, Jessica developed a particular passion for providing holistic Women’s Healthcare among marginalized populations. While she enjoys the impact she makes with individual patients through her role as a Nurse Practitioner, she is pursuing her PhD to impact these populations in a broader way through research, leadership, and becoming a nurse educator. Jessica’s program of research examines reproductive health disparities facing marginalized women. Obtaining a PhD will allow Jessica to pursue her passion for fusing research and education to shape the future of nursing excellence.
NEF’s only purpose is to provide nursing scholarship assistance to make graduate level nursing education possible. NEF is the largest, single, private, professionally endorsed source of funds for advanced nursing study with over one hundred years of service to and for professional nursing.
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Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. Scholarship for Leadership 