Anna C. Quon, MBA HM, BSN, RN, AMB-BC, NEA-BC, is the recipient of a Johnson & Johnson and Dr. Edwidge Thomas Scholarship, awarded by the Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. (NEF) to support her academic and professional goals.

Anna began her nursing career in 2006, after graduating cum laude from the University of Nevada Las Vegas with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and University Honors diploma. She has worked as a registered nurse in various settings, including emergency, case management, ambulatory care, and nursing administration. She obtained her Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management from Western Governors University in 2017, and has earned several certifications, such as Nurse Executive-Advanced and Ambulatory Care Nursing from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Anna works as a Manager of Nursing Research at St. Luke's Health System in Idaho and Oregon, where she oversees research and evidence-based practice initiatives, mentors nursing and interdisciplinary staff, and fosters a culture of inquiry and innovation.

Ms. Quon's passion for nursing stems from her personal and professional experiences with diverse and vulnerable populations. She witnessed the challenges that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities face in accessing quality health care and achieving optimal health-related outcomes. She also saw the need for more nursing research and leadership to address the health disparities that affect these populations. She chose to pursue her Ph.D. in Nursing at Rush University because of its reputation for excellence in research and its commitment to advancing health equity. She hopes to contribute to the body of knowledge and practice in nursing by leveraging research to influence policy and practices to improve the health and well-being of people with autism and other disabilities. Through her work as a formal research investigator, supervisor, and/or mentor for 16 research projects since 2020, she has published several peer-reviewed articles and presented at local, regional, and national conferences. Recently, she served as a subject matter expert for a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion project at Loyola University Chicago, and has delivered presentations focused on health equity and destigmatization topics. She is an active member and leader in several professional organizations, including the American Nurses Association, the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing, and the Alliance for Disability in Health Care Education. She serves on the board of directors of the American Nurses Association – Idaho as Secretary and is a Fellow of the American Nurses Association Advocacy Institute, where she is learning to hone her political advocacy skills. For her academic excellence, leadership, and research, Anna has received several honors and awards, including the St. Luke’s Nursing Excellence Award for New Knowledge, Innovation, and Improvements, and the Nurse Leaders of Idaho Outstanding Nurse Leader Award.

Anna is grateful and honored to receive a Johnson & Johnson and Dr. Edwidge Thomas Health Equity Scholarship, which will help her achieve her academic and professional aspirations. She believes that this scholarship is not only a recognition of her accomplishments but also a responsibility to uphold the values and vision of NEF and Johnson & Johnson. Her dissertation aims to examine health personnel education, healthcare service delivery, and outcomes for people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and their caregivers. Her research will provide recommendations for policy and practice interventions that can improve health outcomes and quality of life for this population.