Kelly Ade, a registered nurse at Stony Brook University Hospital, has been named one of the first recipients of the SUNY Healthcare Educator Scholarship. She is among 12 graduate students chosen for this new award, which is part of a pilot program to increase the number of nursing educators in New York State.
The scholarship initiative aligns with Governor Kathy Hochul’s plan to address healthcare workforce shortages by supporting baccalaureate-prepared nurses who are pursuing master’s degrees. Recipients agree to serve as faculty for three years at a SUNY associate-level nursing program.
Each scholarship provides up to $25,000 per academic year: $20,000 toward tuition and fees for a qualifying master’s in nursing degree at SUNY and an annual $5,000 stipend during eligible enrollment. To qualify, applicants must be practicing registered nurses with bachelor’s degrees and enrolled in a master’s nursing program.
“I am overwhelmed with an immense sense of gratitude and honor,” said Ade. “It relieves the financial stress of graduate education but also allows me the opportunity to give back to the future nursing workforce. I am so grateful to God.”
SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. commented on the importance of this initiative: “Governor Hochul has set a clear and ambitious agenda to strengthen our future healthcare workforce, and SUNY has been laser-focused on supporting more New Yorkers to successfully enter this field through ongoing investment in our infrastructure and essential medical equipment, strategic partnerships, and academic programs,” he said. “New Yorkers are eager to pursue careers in nursing, and we need more skilled faculty to teach the next generation of nurses.”
Ade lives in Miller Place, New York, and is currently entering her second semester as a part-time graduate student at Stony Brook School of Nursing’s Family Nurse Practitioner program. She also works as a registered nurse in Stony Brook University Hospital’s main operating room.
She explained that receiving the scholarship will allow her to focus fully on her studies without financial strain: “Career-wise, it allows me the opportunity to teach nursing students in a two-year program, which has been a long-term career aspiration for me,” she said.
Ade hopes eventually to become an advanced practice provider specializing in cardiology or functional medicine and aims for a long-term career teaching at the university level. She credits her parents—both healthcare workers—for inspiring her choice of profession: “Nursing is the perfect blend of science and the art of compassion,” she said, “with the main goal of addressing the patient in a holistic way.”
Cynthia Jorgensen, assistant director of nursing for Stony Brook Medicine’s operating room department, was cited by Ade as an important supporter during her time as both nurse and student: “She promotes a positive culture in which staff are motivated to work to their highest capability while supporting each other’s goals and aspirations,” Ade said.
Jorgensen praised Ade’s growth since joining as a new graduate nurse: “Kelly has not only mastered the skills required for OR nursing, in one of the most complex services, but her professional growth and confidence are inspiring,” Jorgensen said. “It is a privilege to have her on our team. It is clear she will continue on in the nursing profession with strength and purpose. I look forward to seeing what she will accomplish next.”
Ade offered advice for those considering careers in nursing: “You will encounter difficult moments… In those moments it’s important to remember why you chose to be a nurse and let it motivate you through those moments.”
Patricia Bruckenthal, dean at Stony Brook School of Nursing, highlighted both Ade’s promise as an educator-in-training and broader benefits from scholarships like these: “We’re so fortunate to have Kelly in our Family Nurse Practitioner program,” Bruckenthal said. “The SUNY Healthcare Educator Scholarship is a strategic investment in the future of nursing — bringing talented nurses into education roles which will in turn expand student capacity while ensuring a resilient healthcare workforce in New York. It’s a meaningful step toward training the educators who will train the nurses of tomorrow. We look forward to the impact Kelly will have on our future nurses.”
