The Pulse | Tuesday, May 24, 2022

SGNA Empowering Diversity in the GI Profession Scholarship Returns

By SGNA Associate Editor

Returning for a second year, SGNA’s Empowering Diversity in the GI Profession Scholarship is back after a successful first year! The purpose of the scholarship is to provide SGNA members from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds, gender identities, sexual orientations and those who have been impacted by disability with funding toward their scholarship in the GI profession. The scholarship is run by the SGNA Awards Committee and sponsored by Boston Scientific with an objective to increase diversity in the GI workforce. The application deadline is Friday, June 3, 2022.

The scholarship is for current SGNA members from underrepresented groups who are seeking an undergraduate or graduate degree which includes an associate’s degree, BSN, MSN or PhD from an accredited college or university in the field of nursing or, more broadly, the healthcare field. Full-time students will be awarded $10,000 and part-time students, $5,000. Funds can cover:

• Tuition or registration costs
• Study materials
• Textbooks
• Other education-related expenses

Besides college degree seekers, the scholarship stipend can also cover preparation materials, educational programs and examinations costs for underrepresented members seeking support for a certification program related to the GI profession including CGRN, CFER or AGTS. The certification stipend covers $2,500 of certification costs.

In its first year, the Empowering Diversity Scholarship awarded $50,000 to six SGNA members: Jay Lardizabal MAN RN CGRN, Yoamis Lopez, ST, Muriel Moyo, MS BSN RN CCRN-K NE-BC, Victoria Purpura, BBA RN CGRN, Emily Salisbury, RN, and Jinghong Yu, RN-BC CGRN.

“The SGNA Awards Committee, with the sponsorship of Boston Scientific, was very honored in presenting the groundbreaking GI Professional Diversity Scholarship to well deserving members of our gastroenterology community in 2021,” Rita Walters-Peyton, SGNA Awards Committee chair, says. “Their heartfelt applications told us of the many diverse and difficult challenges they each faced, and how this financial support would positivity impact their ability to reach their educational goals. It is a privilege to be part of this opportunity to support our GI professional community in fulfilling their dreams.” 

Applications for this educational scholarship must be returned via email, by June 3, 2022. Learn
more here and apply online today.