Stories

Scholarships help our nurses achieve their career dreams

There are many things to be proud of at Providence St. Mary Medical Center, and our nurses top the list. They make good on our ministry’s promise of providing exceptional care delivered with kindness and compassion.

With the support of our donor community, Providence St. Mary is supporting our nurses in advancing their careers by elevating their knowledge and skill levels. Each year, the Foundation offers the Frederick and Betty Lou Gross Scholarship to nurses for continuing their education. “We are deeply grateful to our donors for supporting our nurses in achieving their professional goals,” says Sharon Brown, chief nursing officer. “They’re helping us to retain and recruit the best and brightest for our community.”

Nurse scholars share their gratitude

Providence St. Mary Medical Center nurse for nearly six years, Donessa Cordero, BSN, RN, serves as a clinical caregiver orientation lead and is the lead for the TIP program, designed to support nursing graduates. Donessa was honored as a 2022 scholarship recipient to help her achieve her goal of earning a master’s degree in education.

“I would like to thank Betty Lou Gross for easing my way and my family’s way,” smiles Donessa. “I will touch lives, and she will touch those lives, too, through me. This makes her impact exponentially greater.”

Kimberly George, CNM, WHNP-BC, MSN-Ed, RNC-OB, C-EFM, C-ONQS, is a Providence St. Mary labor and delivery nurse. In 2022, she became a certified nurse-midwife and women’s health nurse practitioner thanks to the Frederick and Betty Lou Gross Scholarship.

“It has been an incredible honor to be a recipient of the Frederick and Betty Lou Gross Scholarship for nursing education,” says Kimberly. “You inspire others to reach for their dreams. Your generosity has made this all possible, and I can’t thank you enough for being a part of my journey.”

Creating a Path to Clinical Education & Careers

Providence St. Mary Medical Center is providing current and aspiring caregivers with a path to all levels of clinical careers at the medical center by expanding its comprehensive clinical education program. The aim is to assist current and potential employees by putting widely accessible educational opportunities in place and breaking down financial barriers to education.

The medical center will augment and enhance opportunities for existing employees through career coaching, mentoring and tuition assistance. It is expanding programs to attract new talent through clinical rotation and residency programs.

It also has an eye toward shepherding high school and community college students into clinical and non-clinical roles at Providence St. Mary through innovative collaborations with local schools.

“We’re looking at supporting all levels of educational attainment for our current employees and to help us recruit new talent,” shares John Kozyra, chief philanthropy officer. “We’re working to create accessible paths to careers at Providence St. Mary for every educational level.”

Philanthropy will play a critical role in helping our caregivers pursue further education and connecting the next workforce generation to Providence St. Mary Medical Center. To learn more about how you can help, contact John Kozyra at John.Kozyra@providence.org.