UPMC Jameson School of Nursing at UPMC Hamot Scholarship Endowment

UPMC Jameson School of Nursing at UPMC Hamot

It’s no secret that workforce development is the most critical need in health care.

As one of the fastest growing hospitals in Pennsylvania, UPMC Hamot has witnessed unprecedented demand for well-trained employees of all types. National trends have yielded an especially high demand for nurses.

The question facing UPMC Hamot became obvious in recent years. How could we hire an additional 50, 75, or even 100 nurses per year — all while ensuring exceptional training and job performance? Our leadership decided the only answer was to develop our own pipeline of nursing graduates.

In 2021, through swift decision making and strong local support, a partnership was formed to launch the UPMC Jameson School of Nursing at UPMC Hamot, a rigorous, RN diploma program featuring an incredible 900 hours of clinical learning.

HHF’s leadership in the redevelopment of the former Wayne School created a natural home for the School of Nursing. In a few short months, brand-new aspiring nurses filled the halls. Today, more than 60 highly diverse students are now mere months from entering the local health care workforce, beginning a fulfilling career and elevating the care our community will receive for generations.

The first class of nurses at the UPMC Jameson School of Nursing at UPMC Hamot represents the most diverse group of nursing students in the UPMC system. These students range in age from 18 to 56 years old and come from diverse backgrounds and socioeconomic circumstances. Some are starting their careers, some are making a career change.

They each hold a desire to help people, to become nurses. While their personal stories are incredible, one common theme emerges in the success of these students, and all those who will follow — critical support from scholarships.

An Investment in People

This 16-month program to earn a registered nursing degree combines critical classroom work with 900 hours of clinical experience. Gannon University serves as a partner to provide core classwork to students. Just eight weeks into their first semester, the aspiring nurses are at the bedside observing and performing actual procedures. Upon graduating and passing national examinations, awaiting them will be a myriad of positions in the departments and specialties of their choice at UPMC Hamot.

Through the support of our corporators and other donors, each student received a minimum $3,000 scholarship in the school’s first year. The impact of these scholarships could not be overstated: for many of these students, financial aid is what made their education possible. For this reason, the HHF Board of Corporators has chosen

to support the School of Nursing Scholarship Endowment for our 2022–2023 Corporator Project. This fund will continually aid prospective students to achieve their dream of becoming a nurse.

With over $700,000 pledged to date, our goal is to raise an additional $400,000 from our Corporators in 2022–2023, enabling our graduates to start their careers with professional and personal stability. This endowment will not only assist in creating qualified nurses for our hospital, but it will also create life-changing careers for those students and their families.

Help us make a difference that lasts.

Amy's Story

Amy is a student at of the UPMC Jameson School of Nursing at UPMC Hamot. She currently works as a health unit coordinator in the UPMC Hamot Emergency Department. She grew up in McKean and now lives in Edinboro, raising her four biological children and four foster kids.

“Education was so important to my mom, and she always wanted me to go back and finish college. But as a mom of eight, it just always seemed out of reach for me. After she passed away in 2019, I wanted to show my kids that it’s never too late to change your career, to follow your dream, to start over.

“Of all the local nursing programs, the UPMC Jameson School of Nursing at UPMC Hamot seemed like the best choice for me. The program is shorter and more intensive, and after only 16 months I can get back to working full time to support my family with a new career.

“The best part of the program for me has been the relationships I’ve made. Dr. Karen Morahan does an amazing job of making every student feel valued. She doesn’t just know your name; she knows your story. She wants you to succeed.

“Receiving the scholarship was such a relief. It makes it feasible for me to work part time and focus on school, while maintaining a healthy balance between work, school, and my family.

“To anyone considering the School of Nursing, I’d say: Be brave. You’ll never regret learning, you’ll never regret advancing your career, and you’ll be supported all the way.”