SUNY Downstate Receives $1 Million for Nursing Scholarships as Part of Anticipated $3.6 Million Federal Initiative
By Office of Communications & Marketing | Nov 4, 2026
Scholarships will help nurses pursue advanced training in family and women’s health, supporting access to primary care in underserved communities.
BROOKLYN, NY — SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University’s College of Nursing has received $1 million in federal funding for scholarships to help nurses from disadvantaged backgrounds complete graduate education and become family and women’s health nurse practitioners. The initiative will help prepare more primary care providers as an aging population and ongoing chronic care needs increase demand for healthcare services.
The $1 million is part of anticipated support totaling $3.6 million over five years through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students program. An additional $650,000 is recommended annually for the remaining four years, subject to the availability of federal funds and satisfactory program progress.
Scholarships will support eligible full-time students in the College’s Family Nurse Practitioner and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner specialty tracks, helping cover tuition and related educational expenses. The initiative aims to increase enrollment, retention, and graduation among students from disadvantaged backgrounds and encourage graduates to enter primary care and serve medically vulnerable communities.
For registered nurses, becoming a nurse practitioner requires additional graduate education and clinical preparation. The cost of that education, combined with the demands of full-time study, can make that step difficult. Scholarship support can help make advanced education more attainable while preparing nurses to take on greater responsibilities in patient care.
“As our population ages, we need more providers who can help patients manage chronic conditions and maintain their health over time,” said Lori Escallier, Ph.D., RN, CPNP-PC, FAAN, Dean of the College of Nursing. “These scholarships will help more nurses pursue advanced education and prepare to provide that care, particularly in communities where access is already limited.”
Family nurse practitioners care for patients across the lifespan. In contrast, women’s health nurse practitioners address needs including preventive care, reproductive health, and care through menopause and into later life. Their preparation can help expand access to routine visits, screenings, and ongoing treatment in communities where finding a regular provider can be difficult.
For older adults managing several health conditions, that continuity is especially valuable. A regular provider can help patients understand their treatment, monitor changes in their health, and coordinate care across specialists.
“New York needs more nurse practitioners, and the cost of graduate education should not stand in the way of experienced nurses ready to take that next step,” said Jeanine Santelli, Ph.D., RN, AGPCNP-BC, FAAN, Chief Executive Officer of the American Nurses Association–New York and the Foundation of ANA-NY. “These scholarships will help prepare more providers to serve communities facing persistent gaps in care. They will also help build a workforce that better reflects New York’s diversity, bringing cultural understanding and shared experiences that can strengthen trust and communication with patients.”
“Investing in these students is investing in a nursing workforce that reflects and serves our communities,” said Marie-Claire Rosenberg Roberts, Ph.D., MS, MPA, RN, Professor and Executive Vice Dean of the College of Nursing, who serves as project director. “Financial pressures can make it difficult for nurses to pursue graduate education full time. These scholarships will help eligible students focus on their studies, complete their degrees, and prepare for careers in primary care.”
For more than three decades, Downstate’s College of Nursing has educated advanced practice nurses who go on to serve Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Manhattan, including communities facing primary care shortages. Its distance-accessible curricular tracks also reach students in rural and underserved areas of upstate New York.
The initiative supports Downstate’s #KeepCareClose commitment by investing in nurses who help patients access preventive care and ongoing treatment in their communities.
About SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Downstate Health Sciences University is Brooklyn’s academic medical Center and the only SUNY academic medical center in New York City. It serves as a critical hub for healthcare delivery, medical education, and research for Brooklyn’s 2.7 million residents.
University Hospital at Downstate (UHD) delivers high-acuity and community-based care across the borough, supported by more than 800 physicians across 53 specialties and subspecialties. UHD provides high-risk neonatal and infant care, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis services, and established Brooklyn’s first kidney transplantation program more than 50 years ago.
Downstate strengthens the healthcare workforce and advances community-based care through its academic programs and clinical training. Its biotechnology initiatives, including the Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT, drive innovation and economic growth across Brooklyn and New York City.