护理 student receives prestigious health equity scholarship from 约翰逊 & 约翰逊

One University of New England student is benefitting from an initiative by one of the nation’s largest pharmaceutical companies that seeks to increase and support diversity and inclusion in the health care workforce.

摩根·戴斯蒙德(护理, ’24) is a recipient of the 2023 约翰逊 & 约翰逊 Our Race to 健康 Equity Diversity 护理 Scholarship. Awarded through the Foundation of the National Student Nurses’ Association (FNSA), 的5美元,000 scholarship will support Desmond through her senior year as she completes her Bachelor of 科学 in 护理 from UNE.

The scholarship was created in 2020 as part of 约翰逊 & 约翰逊’s Our Race to 健康 Equity initiative, its first cohort of awardees was selected in 2021. The initiative and scholarship aim to support a world where health equity is a pillar of society and the health care system. It is one part of a multi-pronged strategy to ensure access to high-quality and culturally competent health care for all.

新罕布什尔州人, Desmond became interested in cultural competencies in health care following a semester abroad at UNE’s campus in 丹吉尔、摩洛哥. For her, becoming involved with the 约翰逊 & 约翰逊 initiative is a symbol that health care is moving toward better, more equitable care for all.

“We’re often taught that we should look at people the same in the health care setting, but I actually disagree with that,她想道。. “We should treat everybody as individuals based on their needs. 来自美国的人.S. likely won’t need the same kind of care as somebody from Africa. And it’s important to recognize that we also need more providers who look like the communities we serve.”

For Desmond, the initiative is personal. Growing up in a multicultural environment, Desmond said she is glad to see barriers of bias being broken down between both patients and providers.

“We’re finally shifting into this new age of patient care where everybody can feel safe and heard — and not just racially, 性别也是如此,”她说。. “We're in an era where we’re advocating not just on behalf of our patients, but for ourselves as providers.”

为了表彰她的获奖, Desmond attended the 71st annual National Student Nurses’ Association Convention Opening Session and Awards Ceremony on April 12 in Nashville, 田纳西州.