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 and a DNP in Nurse Anesthesia simultaneously makes perfect sense, though it may seem like a wild feat to others. Balancing full-time ICU nursing with doctoral studies is not easy, but my journey reflects a deep commitment to integrating research and practice, with the ultimate goal of advancing the nursing profession and improving patient outcomes. This scholarship represents more than financial assistance—it is an investment in a vision. By alleviating the financial burden of my studies, it would empower me to focus on research and clinical training, enabling me to make meaningful contributions to the field of nursing while preparing for the financial challenges of anesthesia school. My academic journey began at Louisiana State University, where I pursued degrees in biochemistry and sociology. Many questioned the connection between these fields, but to me, the link was clear: healthcare requires both scientific knowledge and an understanding of the human element. This interdisciplinary foundation proved invaluable during the peak of COVID-19, when I worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator. I could interpret viral illnesses and drug development while also communicating the importance of clinical trials to anxious families. Those long days in the lab, nights in the ICU, and countless hours studying prepared me for this moment. Witnessing the direct impact of illness in COVID ICUs, I sought a more hands-on role in patient care, leading me to pursue an accelerated BSN. Even amidst the rigorous demands of nursing school, I continued to work in a physiology laboratory, contributing to the broader body of research. Balancing these commitments was grueling, 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. My journey also reflects my personal history. I moved from Canada to the United States as a child and became a U.S. citizen while in high school. While my experience was far less difficult than what many immigrants face today, it shaped my perspective. I learned early on that transitions require resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to embrace new opportunities. Those lessons have carried into my professional life, where I continue to adapt and persevere in the face of challenges. With all that I have done to get to this point in my career, my goal is to conduct research that directly impacts patient care—testing hypotheses, developing clinical trials, and studying anesthesia in novel ways. My PhD will teach me to design studies, while my DNP will allow me to care for vulnerable patients through direct practice. Together, these degrees will help me streamline clinical decisions and generate research questions rooted in real-world patient care. I envision projects that bridge nursing and anesthesiology, focusing on pain management, nurse-led interventions, and improved collaboration between nurses and anesthesiologists. By combining these disciplines, I hope to improve patient outcomes and influence policies that benefit generations to come. This scholarship will not only improve my life but also the lives of countless patients. By enabling me to complete my education and conduct meaningful research, it will contribute to the advancement of nursing practice and empower nurses to lead innovation. I am deeply committed to this mission, and with your support, I am confident I can make a lasting impact on healthcare.

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.