Partnering with University of Saint Francis, Heart to Heart Hospice Foundation helps impact the future of nursing and community health.
As part of its commitment to educating healthcare professionals and serving communities, the Heart to Heart Hospice Foundation has made a $25,000 endowment to the nursing program at the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The established “Heart to Heart Hospice Foundation Endowed Nursing Scholarship” will be awarded to University of Saint Francis nursing students based upon character, academic ability, and financial need.
“We are beyond excited about the opportunity to provide this nursing scholarship,” said Lara Beck, Vice President of Operations for Heart to Heart Hospice. “In a year when many things have been cut back or eliminated altogether, it’s an honor to work for a company that still sees education as a top priority and the nursing profession as an extremely important part of the healthcare continuum.”
In acknowledging the endowment, Dr. Wendy Clark, Graduate Nursing Program Director, said that many USF nursing graduates have sought opportunities in hospice and palliative care, finding their vocation in serving some of the community’s most vulnerable.
“By the nature of our culture here at the University of Saint Francis, our graduate nursing students actively listen to their patients and their families, looking for opportunities to treat with a holistic approach,” Dr. Clark said. She pointed to a course in the MSN program focused on older adults and those with chronic conditions in which students learn to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care.
“Our students develop advanced registered nursing practice that addresses the spiritual as well as the physical needs of the patient,” she added.
The Heart to Heart Hospice Foundation endowment is made available through the foundation’s Education and Scholarship program – one of its unique programs designed to reach those in the community by providing greater care, greater education, and a commitment to celebrate life.
“We believe that the greatest impact we have is through the ripple effect of education,” said Kelly Mitchell, CEO and Founder of Heart to Heart Hospice and President of Heart to Heart Hospice Foundation. “By training compassionate caregivers today, we are creating a brighter tomorrow. We are pleased to be a part of the highly respected nursing program at the University of Saint Francis.”