American Journal of Nursing (AJN) / Thelma Schorr Scholarship
Graduate School Support for Nurses Using Their Voices to Improve Healthcare
Born in 1924, Thelma Schorr was a trailblazing nurse with a long and illustrious career. As an influential leader, she transformed nursing journalism into a platform for ethics and social change. The American Journal of Nursing scholarship was created for master’s or doctoral nursing graduate students who exercise their voice for nursing through speaking, writing, or advocacy. In 2018, The American Journal of Nursing (AJN) renamed its NEF scholarship the "AJN / Thelma Schorr Scholarship" to honor her legacy.
Featured AJN / Thelma Schorr Scholarship Recipients
Nursing students who received this scholarship embody Thelma Schorr’s legacy of using communication as an instrument of advocacy. These three featured recipients turned personal identity or a first-hand experience into a public advocacy mission:
Allison Gilmer, DNP/MPH, FNP-BC
- Translated emergency and primary care clinical experiences into state/federal policy advocacy surrounding the opioid epidemic and LGBTQIA+ care access
- Served on legislative/PAC committees and leveraged dual DNP/MPH training to speak directly to policymakers
- Bridged bedside observation with high-level legislative advocacy to fix systemic gaps in care
Chelsea Schafer, DNP, BSN, RN, TCRN
- Championed trauma prevention and screening tools for sudden cardiac arrest in student athletes
- Translated personal family grief into community outreach, implementation science, and clinical screening protocols
- Utilized public education, local screening initiatives, and clinical data to prevent tragedy before it reached the shock trauma unit
Athena D. Ford, PhD(c), BSN, RN
- Advocated for LGBTQ+ survivors of violence and transgender women of color
- Used scholarly research and public writing/speaking as a tool for health equity and violence prevention
- Turned personal lived experience into empirical research that spoke for marginalized communities
These nurse leaders aren’t just treating patients; they are writing, researching, and shaping policy to fix the root cause of suffering. NEF-named scholarships ensure that the spirit of pioneers like Thelma Schorr remain an active, living force in contemporary healthcare. Support NEF to keep amplifying nurses’ voices. Donate to the AJN / Thelma Schorr Scholarship today.