University Of Southern Nevada

The scholarship program aims to increase the number of Nevada students focusing on oncology nursing, basic sciences, biotechnology or public health. The scholarship program also allows currently licensed registered nurses (RN) to complete graduate work focusing on oncology nursing.

Over the past eight years, Akuette has worked as a patient care assistant in various hospitals in many areas, but oncology is the field that appeals to her most strongly. After graduating from USN's College of Nursing,  she hopes to work in an oncology specialist hospital and earn a master’s degree in oncology nursing, with an emphasis in research. Doris sees teaching patients to take charge of their lives and illness is as key way to make a substantial impact in oncology.

The Oncology Nursing Scholarships are awarded to students who show academic excellence and an interest in this field.

“The scholarship winners demonstrate an intense passion for knowledge and ambition toward the fight against cancer,” said Sandra Murdock, NVCI president and chief executive officer. “We could not be happier with the quality of these recipients, and their drive to excel in the nursing and sciences professions.”

It is the hope of NVCI and Siemens that through the scholarship program, talent in the healthcare industry can be nurtured at home, enhancing Nevada’s health care industry.
 

One of only ten college students from across the country to receive the prestigious honor, Smith was nominated by Dr. Paul Oesterman, assistant professor of pharmacy practice at USN, for her steadfast commitment to educating Clark County youth about the dangers of prescription and over-the-counter drug abuse as a member of the USN’s Drug Abuse Awareness Team.

“Jennifer has proven to be an enthusiastic and dynamic presenter in Clark County classrooms,” said Dr. Oesterman. “She continues to capture the attention of teenagers at risk for drug abuse and convey messages that help them make the right decision when confronted with drug temptations.”

With one in five American teenagers abusing prescription and over-the-counter drugs, the Drug Abuse Awareness Team was founded in 2007 by a group of USN College of Pharmacy students. The team has partnered with the Clark County School District and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to present comprehensive and informative presentations to middle school students throughout the Las Vegas Valley. It is the team’s mission to influence and educate as many teens as possible about the misuse of prescription and over-the-counter drugs so they can be armed with knowledge about the possibilities and consequences of destructive behaviors.

The Community Service Award was presented to Smith by Captain Stewart Jorgenson of the U.S. Public Health Service at an on-campus ceremony on May 15. The Drug Abuse Awareness Team as a whole was honored with the U.S. Public Health Service’s Public Health Practice Award for Pharmacy in 2007.

“The university is proud of Jennifer and the entire Drug Abuse Awareness Team for being recognized two years in a row,” said Dr. Oesterman. “That’s a tremendous accomplishment and one that each and every member of the team should be proud of.”

Summer 2008 Connections Magazine (.pdf 2.89MB)

Sacha Pollard, a third year pharmacy doctoral student from the University of Southern Nevada (USN) College of Pharmacy, has been selected to receive a 2006-2007 American Society of Health-System Pharmacist (ASHP) Student Leadership Award.

As recipient of the prestigious award, Pollard received a plaque, an ASHP drug information reference library valued at more than $900 and a $2,500 cash award from the ASHP Research and Education Foundation.

Pollard was one of 12 recipients out of 71 highly qualified applicants from pharmacy colleges across the country to be selected for the honor.

In addition to the Student Leadership Award, Pollard also represented USN at the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) National Patient Counseling Competition March 16 to19 in Atlanta, GA. She finished in the top 10 as she competed against students from more than ninety pharmacy schools in a mock patient counseling competition.

“Sacha has proven to be an ambitious student, dedicated to achieving academic and professional success,” said Dr. Harry Rosenberg, president of the University of Southern Nevada. “Her selection for the Student Leadership Award and her finishing in the top 10 in a national competition are tremendous achievements and a wonderful reflection on Sacha and the USN faculty that helped her develop remarkable competency in the pharmacy profession.”