A Foundation for Growth

Every day, health care moves forward. Staying on top of innovations takes hard work and ongoing education. To make the process more affordable, CHI Saint Joseph Health Foundations provide scholarships to employees eager to grow their knowledge and careers.

Applicants receive scholarships based on their commitment to CHI Saint Joseph Health, priority of staffing needs, recommendation letters and strength of application. Between 35 and 50 team members receive scholarships every year.

“For decades, we’ve awarded scholarships to employees who wish to obtain a degree, certification or advanced credential,” said Delaine Thiel, CFRE, vice president of philanthropy for CHI Saint Joseph Health. “Our program allows employees to grow their careers, while ensuring we provide the highest level of patient care.”

Since launching more than 40 years ago, the scholarship program has helped hundreds advance their health careers and improve the care offered to you. Here’s how these scholarships have helped three recipients better serve you.

Originally from northwest Ohio, Sara Thompson, RN, earned her nursing degree in 2002. She then provided emergency care, served in pulmonary rehabilitation and managed an intensive care unit before coming to Flaget Memorial Hospital in 2019.

Soon after coming onboard, she felt a need to continue her education. So, she applied to Western Governors University to earn her master’s in health care leadership

Initially, she was unsure how she would afford her education. She heard of scholarship opportunities through the Flaget Memorial Hospital Foundation but didn’t know she would receive financial help. Committed to the process, she hunted for creative ways to afford tuition. Then she learned that the Foundation awarded her a $3,000 scholarship.

“It was a huge relief,” she said. “It really laid the groundwork for me to continue and complete my degree.”

Thompson completed her degree in July 2022. She’s now director of nursing over the birth center, float team and house managers.

Throughout her program, she gained knowledge with real-world application. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, part of her coursework involved developing action plans for a global pandemic. Additionally, her coursework taught her how to transition to new electronic medical records (EMR) systems. This knowledge was soon put to use, as Flaget Memorial Hospital was in the process of adopting a new EMR system.

“The scholarship was a true blessing,” Thompson said. “Without those extra funds, I might not have been able to complete my schooling as quickly. My scholarship had an immediate effect on my staff and the patients we serve.”

Joshua Holland, BSN, RN, manager of the emergency department and outpatient services at Saint Joseph London, was destined to work in the family business: health care. His mother, father and aunts were all nurses or EMTs. Their influence sparked his passion for health care and commitment to serving others.

“I’ve always felt a deep desire to make a tangible impact on people’s lives,” said the Kentucky native.

Saint Joseph London helped him begin fulfilling that desire in 2019. While finishing nursing school, Holland completed an externship in the hospital’s emergency department (ED). Soon after, he began his nursing career in the ED.

Eager to learn more, he earned his bachelor’s degree in 2022. Then he set his sights on receiving his master’s degree as a family nurse practitioner. The degree will provide increased autonomy and salary. Both appeal to this married father of two.

While he looks forward to the future benefits, making it through school is no easy task. He’s balancing a full-time master’s program with managing the ED and taking time for his family.

“I just take one day at a time and remind myself how blessed I am,” Holland said. “I feel honored and grateful to have been selected as a recipient of a $1,000 scholarship from the Saint Joseph London Foundation. Advancing in the medical field comes with student debt, but this scholarship has truly lightened my burden, so I can focus on the most important aspect of my education: learning.”

Austie Stewart, RN, couldn’t wait to start her health care career. Inspired by her mother, Stewart became a certified nurse assistant or CNA as a teenager.

“My mom was an RN, and everything about her job interested me,” Stewart said. “Seeing her put on her scrubs and making a difference was awesome.”

After getting her associate degree, Stewart became a pharmacy technician. A decade later, she still dreamed of becoming a nurse. She applied to Morehead State University’s nursing program and was accepted in 2022. At the same time, she came on board the pharmacy team at Saint Joseph Mount Sterling.

While pursuing her RN degree, Stewart worked and studied full time. Her leader in the pharmacy encouraged her along the way and worked around her schedule. As soon as she graduated in December 2023, she took a position as an ICU nurse.

Now, she interacts with patients every day. She has the same positive effect on patients as her mother, providing quality nursing care and offering help in the pharmacy when needed. Her journey required a lot of hard work. Receiving nearly $7,000 in scholarships made the path a little bit smoother.

“There aren’t many places that support their staff like this, and I couldn’t have asked for anything better to elevate my career,” Stewart said. “I don’t know what I would have done without the scholarship.”

Contributing to the scholarship fund is one way you can positively impact health care in our community. Visit SupportCHISaintJosephHealth.org or call 859.313.1705 to learn how you can support the CHI Saint Joseph Health
Foundations scholarship fund.