Foundation of CVPH Invests in Future of Patient Care
Nearly $50,000 in scholarships supports growth of employees, students pursuing health care careers
PLATTSBURGH, NY (7/25/2024) – While growing up, Connor Bond, BSN, RN witnessed his mother beat breast cancer twice. The care she received inspired him to become a nurse. Now working in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH), Bond is ready to get deeper into patient care by becoming a nurse practitioner. The Foundation of CVPH is supporting that dream, and the dreams of dozens more, through its latest round of scholarships.
In all, The Foundation has awarded nearly $50,000 in funding to 39 hospital employees and recent high school graduates in Clinton and Essex Counties.
Bond is one of 24 hospital employees receiving a total of $35,000 in scholarships to pursue higher education. He is going to graduate school part time and says the financial support he is receiving from The Foundation and other sources at the hospital make a big difference. His goal is to be debt free when he earns his degree, an accomplishment Bond believes would not be possible without The Foundation and its generous donors.
“It’s amazing to be able to receive this support. And I think it really motivates people to pursue their professional goals more,” he explains. “As much as we don’t like to talk about finances, it’s a big part of life. And a lot of people don’t pursue things because of the costs. While they can’t pay for everything, it’s important to know that there are these opportunities The Foundation offers to better yourself in the end. Sometimes, you just need that little extra push to get across the finish line, and that’s something they can help with.”
Ten nurses are receiving financial support for master’s degrees and additional education by attending national conferences. Employees from accounting, adult psychiatry, case management, child and adolescent psychiatry, emergency management services, patient registration, CVPH Skilled Nursing Facility, CVPH FitzPatrick Cancer Center and physician practices are also benefiting from The Foundation’s funding.
Education scholarships are available to any CVPH employee seeking financial assistance with pursuit of an undergraduate or graduate degree, taking a course or continuing education that will improve and strengthen their role at the hospital. Scholarships are available for high school seniors in Clinton and Essex Counties. All applications are reviewed by The Foundation Scholarship Task Force and total awards are made based on available funding each year.
The Foundation also awarded $12,000 to 15 students who graduated from high school this summer and are working towards careers in health care. Eight students are seeking degrees locally, including CVPH School of Radiologic Technology, North Country Community College and SUNY Plattsburgh. Nursing, physical therapy, biology, radiology, speech language and pharmaceuticals are among the programs the students will be studying in the fall.
High school scholarships are available to any graduating high school senior from Clinton or Essex Counties who has chosen a degree in a health care related field. Applications need to be completed in their entirety and received by the Scholarship Committee no later than April 2025. Anyone with questions can talk to their high school guidance counselor or email Karen Reid: kreid [at] cvph.org (kreid[at]cvph[dot]org).
Kerry Haley, CFRE, who is the Associate Vice President of Philanthropy at CVPH, notes the scholarships often jumpstart long and fulfilling careers in health care at the hospital.
“We see many students who have received a scholarship from us study hard locally and then stay here so they can grow here, professionally. Our patients benefit from the latest, state-of-the-art training the students receive, many times knowing these health care professionals personally. And thanks to our donors, we’re able to help keep talented and committed people right here in our region to provide the care our community deserves for years to come,” Haley adds.
“One of the great things about nursing, and health care in general, is that you never really stop learning,” Bond points out. “Health care is always changing, which means there are best practices to adopt, additional skills to develop, and new ways to provide care. And all of that really comes down to doing what is best for each of our patients. At the end of the day, I want to grow professionally so I can have a positive impact on every person I care for.”