One of the questions I get asked most often is "what do you plan on doing with all of those degrees?". To me, pursuing a PhD in Nursing Science and a DNP in Nurse Anesthesia makes perfect sense, though it seems like an overwhelming undertaking to many others. It may not be easy currently balancing being a full-time surgical intensive care registered nurse while completing PhD-level coursework, but I would not want to be in any other situation. My educational journey reflects a deep-seated commitment to integrating research and practice, with the ultimate goal of advancing the nursing profession and improving patient outcomes. My combined training in nursing science and anesthesia will allow me to serve my community in Louisiana directly while also advancing care for patients far beyond those I encounter in the operating room. My academic journey began at Louisiana State University where I pursued two bachelor's degrees in biochemistry and sociology, under the guidance of the Honors College. Paralleling the question I get today, many questioned the connection between these seemingly unrelated fields, but to me, the link was clear: healthcare. Healthcare requires a blend of scientific knowledge and a deep understanding of the human element. This interdisciplinary foundation proved invaluable during my time as a Clinical Research Coordinator during the peak of COVID-19. My background allowed me to understand viral illnesses and drug development while effectively communicating the importance of clinical trials to worried patients and anxious families. The blend of hard and soft sciences was crucial in navigating the complexities of the pandemic, but ultimately inspired me to pursue nursing. I sought out a more hands-on role in patient care, where I enrolled in an advanced BSN program. Even amidst the rigorous demands of nursing school, I challenged myself to work in a physiology laboratory through the guidance of the Honors Research Program and to seek out novel connections through the Interprofessional Scholars Program. I was passionate about contributing to a broader body of science while preparing myself to take care of patients in my community. Balancing these commitments was similarly difficult, but it reinforced my belief in the importance of integrating research with clinical practice. I knew I wanted to be part of the solution, not just a bystander. I have been fortunate enough to be able to work as a full-time nurse while advancing my background knowledge in the field through graduate-level courses through my PhD. The next step of my journey, though, takes me into the operating room where I will be privileged enough to learn how to take care of patients in their most vulnerable moments. I have strived to become a nurse anesthetist for years, but am proud to finally matriculate into the program of my dreams. It will require me to transition away from my PhD temporarily, but my goals are solid. I want to conduct research one day that will bridge the gap between nursing and anesthesiology, focusing on areas where nurses can play a more significant role in improving patient outcomes. This includes studying the effectiveness of different pain management techniques, evaluating the impact of nurse-led interventions on patient recovery, and exploring ways to enhance communication and collaboration between our clinical collaborators. By combining the two disciplines I am pursuing doctorates in, I know that I will be able to improve patient care for generations of people to come.

One of the questions I am asked most often is, “What do you plan to do with all of those degrees?” To me, pursuing a PhD in Nursing Science while preparing to begin a DNP in Nurse Anesthesia makes perfect sense, even if it seems ambitious to others. Balancing full‑time work as an intensive care nurse with doctoral studies is challenging, but it reflects my commitment to integrating research and practice to advance nursing and improve patient outcomes. This scholarship represents more than financial support—it is an investment in that vision. Easing the financial burden of my education would allow me to fully focus on my training while preparing for my career ahead. My academic journey began at Louisiana State University, where I earned two bachelor's degrees in biochemistry and sociology with supervision from the Honors College. Many questioned the connection between these fields, but to me the link was clear: healthcare. This is a field that requires both scientific rigor and an understanding of the human experience. This interdisciplinary foundation proved invaluable when I worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator during the height of the COVID‑19 pandemic. My background allowed me to understand viral pathophysiology and drug development while also communicating complex information to worried patients and anxious families. The blend of hard and social sciences was crucial in navigating the complexities of the pandemic, bridging the gap between scientific advancements and human needs. Witnessing the impact of illness in COVID ICUs inspired me to pursue a more hands‑on role in patient care, where I soon enrolled in an acclerated BSN. Even during the intensity of nursing school, I continued working in a physiology laboratory, contributing to research that advances medicine. Balancing these commitments reinforced my belief that research and clinical practice must inform one another. I knew I wanted to be part of the solution, not just a bystander. Today, I am a full‑time ICU nurse and a PhD student in Nursing Science. While some colleagues think I am “crazy” for taking on so much, I know that my passion for research is best realized within nursing science, where I can generate evidence that propels the profession forward. This spring, I will begin a DNP program in Nurse Anesthesia. The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology has emphasized the need for nurse researchers in this specialty, and I hope to answer that call. My long‑term goal is to conduct research that directly improves patient care. I envision designing and testing clinical trials, studying the impacts of anesthesia in innovative ways, and developing evidence that informs practice. I am particularly interested in bridging nursing and anesthesiology—evaluating pain management strategies, assessing nurse‑led interventions on recovery, and improving communication between professions. My goal is to produce findings that shape policy and improve care for generations, not just for the patients I have the honor of treating. Despite my passion, the financial burden of pursuing two doctorates is significant. Nurses are often underpaid, and I anticipate reduced income as I shift toward clinical hours and away from full‑time employment. Receiving this scholarship would alleviate a substantial portion of my financial burden, allowing a weight to be taken off my shoulders as I train. By supporting my education, you are investing in a future where nurses lead research, drive innovation, and transform healthcare. I am deeply committed to advancing nursing through both research and practice, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be considered.

My decision to pursue nursing grew out of a series of moments that made it clear how deeply human healthcare is. As a clinical research coordinator, I loved the rigor of trials and promise of new therapies, but my role was often behind the scenes. When the pandemic brought me directly into the COVID ICU, everything changed. Suddenly I was present at the bedside to consent patients, but also to assist nurses however possible. I found that some of the most useful help I provided was holding hands of patients and iPads for families to connect with their loved ones. However, I felt limited in my ability to appropriately answer questions and contribute more to the patients care. Here, a true calling was revealed that I could no longer ignore. Those connections with patients compelled me to transition from clinical research and commit fully to nursing. I enrolled in an accelerated program to honor this conviction and move quickly to where I could make a more immediate difference. My faith throughout the transition has been both a compass and comfort in my nursing career. Years prior, in my undergraduate degree at LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, I founded Chabad at LSU. This experience taught me how to build community from scratch in a place where many people were unfamiliar with Judaism. Establishing that chapter required patience, humility, and a willingness to meet people where they were - all skills that foreshadowed my career in nursing in Louisiana, where cultural and religious diversity often shape how patients understand illness and healing. The same perseverance that helped me grow a Jewish presence on campus now helps me navigate long shifts, complex care, and the emotional labor of supporting patients through uncertainty. Now, working in the surgical intensive care unit, I care for the sickest of sick patients from a wide variety of backgrounds. There have been many times where I have been surprised and humbled by how faith becomes a bridge. Even when a patient and I come from different traditions, a shared trust in G'd or a shared need for spiritual reassurance creates a space for genuine connection. I have sat with patients who prayed in ways that I did not know, but have found that honoring those practices builds trust that improves care. In those moments, the particularities of my Jewish practice matter less than the shared importance of meaning and hope in the moment. I reflect on how my upbringing in Shul taught me how to listen, respect, and protect the dignity of each person, especially in such vulnerable moments. People often say nursing is a calling; an idea that felt silly to me until I found my own path into the field, where it now makes complete sense. Choosing nursing was a decision to bring my whole self to work - the curiosity from my research , the urgency from my time in the COVID ICU, and my spiritual commitments to the mitzvah of tending to the sick. I am currently pursuing a PhD in Nursing Science and will begin a DNP in Nurse Anesthesia in the Summer. These paths reflect my commitment to deepen both the evidence base and clinical skills that allow me to serve patients at the highest level. In South Louisiana, I sometimes find myself explaining simple things about my faith, just as I once did at LSU. Those conversations open doors that remind me that nursing is not just a career, but a vocation that allows me to uphold Judaism's teachings and values everyday while practicing the art and science of nursing.