Chosen for her commitment to oncology or palliative care, as well as her academic achievements, York master’s nursing student Margaret Samide was one of 15 recipients to receive a $10,000 fellowship from the de Souza Institute recently.
All Ontario registered nurses pursuing a graduate degree in a health, social science or education-related field were eligible to apply. Along with receiving financial support, winners will also participate in monthly professional development seminars with nursing leaders.
The de Souza Institute is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health & Long-Term Care and dedicated to providing Ontarians with the world’s best cancer nursing care. The scholarship will be put toward Samide’s graduate studies.
“The quality of applicants to this year’s fellowship program was outstanding and we are very pleased with the recipients,” said Mary Jane Esplen, director of the de Souza Institute. “Our fellowship program provides ongoing professional guidance and support, and will potentially enable these nurses to make a tremendous future impact on cancer care in Ontario.”
The de Souza Institute is the first of its kind in Canada and provides innovative education and mentorship programs for oncology nurses at no cost. Information technology tools enable the institute to reach out to every corner of the province to provide a mix of academic instruction using Telemedicine and other e-learning methods.
“With the growing cancer patient population, it’s important that nurses develop the skills to address the specialized issues and challenges of caring for cancer patients and their families,” said Esplen.
Premier Dalton McGuinty launched the de Souza Institute in May 2008 with $15 million in provincial funding over five years to support oncology nursing. The institute is named in honour of the late Anna Maria de Souza, the founder of the Brazilian Carnival Ball, an event which has raised millions of dollars for philanthropic causes, including York University.
For more information, visit the de Souza Institute Web site.