SUMMIT, NJ – SEPTEMBER 2021 – A record 74 nursing scholarships were awarded recently to team members at Overlook Medical Center who are looking to enhance their roles as health care providers by pursuing nursing degrees.
The scholarships, which must be used toward a nursing degree (including RN to BSN and advanced degree programs), are provided through the generosity of a variety of donor-funded scholarship programs offered and administered through the Overlook Foundation, the non-profit organization that supports the hospital.
“Overlook’s commitment to helping our team members advance their abilities has greatly contributed to the high-quality patient care we offer,” said MaryPat Sullivan, director of nursing education and professional development for Atlantic Health System who served as chief nursing officer for Overlook for the last 14 years. “In nursing specifically, the results have led to numerous quality-based achievements, not the least of which was our prestigious Magnet designation, as well as our Lantern Awards for the Summit and Union Emergency Departments.”
In all this year, $64,000 was awarded to current nurses, while $15,000 went to team members in other professions throughout Overlook who are participating in the scholarship programs to become professional registered nurses.
The program is open to team members working full time, part time, and per diem, with applications reviewed by a committee that includes the hospital’s chief nursing officer, and both donors and administrators of the various scholarships.
“The support of our generous donors has allowed us to consistently enhance the care we offer at Overlook, including such direct investments in our work force,” said Clelia Biamonti, executive director of the Overlook Foundation.
After Dr. Walter Groff and his wife Patricia, a former nurse, established the Dorothy and Edward Brill & Muriel and Donald Groff, M.D. Nursing Scholarship in honor of their parents in 2009, Overlook experienced a surge of support for nursing education, including The Nicholas J. and Anna K. Bouras Nursing Education Scholarship.
“Mr. Bouras always encouraged his employees at Bouras Industries to continue their education throughout their careers,” commented William Crane, president of the Nicholas J. and Anna K. Bouras Foundation. “He put his words into action by financing his employees’ education in the belief that they would not only better themselves, but the company as well. This scholarship is an extension of his belief that such funding is a sound investment all around.”
Others include:
- The Ann M. Oliva Nursing Education Scholarship
- The Edward S. Atwater Scholarship Fund
- The Overlook Auxiliary Nursing Scholarship
- The Elsa Russell Nursing Scholarship
- The Claudia Wuest Nursing Education Scholarship
- The John and Marion Herrmann Nursing Education Scholarship
“Continuing with my education in health care was one of the best and most challenging decisions I have ever made,” said patient care technician and scholarship recipient LaTanya Murphy. “I appreciate all of the kindhearted individuals who are donating to students just like me to not only further our careers but also live out our dreams.”
About Atlantic Health System
Atlantic Health System is at the forefront of medicine, setting standards for quality health care in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the New York metropolitan area. Powered by a workforce of more than 18,000 team members and 4,800 affiliated physicians dedicated to building healthier communities, Atlantic Health System serves more than half of the state of New Jersey including 11 counties and 4.9 million people. The not-for-profit system offers more than 400 sites of care, including seven hospitals: Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ, Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ, Newton Medical Center in Newton NJ, Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, NJ, Hackettstown Medical Center in Hackettstown, NJ, Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, NJ, and Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute in Madison, NJ.
Atlantic Medical Group, comprised of 1,000 physicians and advanced practice providers, represents one of the largest multi-specialty practices in New Jersey and joins Atlantic Accountable Care Organization and Optimus Healthcare Partners as part of Atlantic Alliance, a Clinically Integrated Network of more than 2,500 health care providers throughout northern and central NJ.
Atlantic Health System provides care for the full continuum of health care needs through 16 urgent care centers, Atlantic Visiting Nurse and Atlantic Anywhere Virtual Visits. Facilitating the connection between these services on both land and air is the transportation fleet of Atlantic Mobile Health.
Atlantic Health System leads the Healthcare Transformation Consortium, a partnership of six regional hospitals and health systems dedicated to improving access and affordability and is a founding member of the PIER Consortium – Partners in Innovation, Education, and Research – a streamlined clinical trial system that will expand access to groundbreaking research across five health systems in the region.
Atlantic Health System has a medical school affiliation with Thomas Jefferson University and is home to the regional campus of the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Morristown and Overlook Medical Centers and is the official health care partner of the New York Jets.