Three years. 300+ nurses. How the UR Nursing Scholars program is shaping our workforce

Now entering its third year, the UR Nursing Scholars program has reached a milestone of supporting more than 300 aspiring nurses.

The initiative, now a flagship program at the University of Rochester, offers full tuition coverage for a 12-month accelerated bachelor’s in nursing in exchange for a three-year work commitment at select University of Rochester Medicine hospitals.

Since its launch in Fall 2023, the Scholars program has strengthened the region’s nursing workforce and offered an innovative solution to statewide shortages while creating a financially accessible pathway into the profession.

The School of Nursing’s Accelerated Bachelor’s (ABSN) program welcomes about 165 UR Nursing Scholars to its cohorts each year — or about 55 each semester — connecting second-degree students with guaranteed job placements, career support, and mentorship from experts in the profession. Today, more than 200 Scholars program graduates have gone on to launch their careers as registered nurses at Strong Memorial, Highland, and F.F. Thompson hospitals.

“Ensuring a strong, sustainable nursing workforce starts in our classrooms,” said Dean Lisa Kitko, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN. “The program’s continued success reflects our commitment to both our future nurses and the communities they will serve, and helps our health system improve lives in meaningful ways.”

Scholars have hailed from across New York, the Northeast, and states as far as California, North Carolina, and Texas. They bring degrees and career experiences in fields as varied as accounting, biology, computer science, marketing, and music — enhancing the richness of the nursing community across URochester Medicine hospitals.

“UR Nursing Scholars are shining examples of the strong, practice-ready nurses we want on our teams,” said URochester Medicine Chief Nursing Executive E. Kate Valcin, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CCRN, CNL, FCCM. “Having Scholars as our current and future colleagues delivers a real impact on our region and ensures that our hospitals can proactively respond to our community’s needs.”

Meet our Scholars program alumni

Stephen Foster ’24N, RN, a registered nurse and interim assistant nurse manager in Acute Medicine at Strong Memorial Hospital, is among the first Scholars program alumni to launch new careers at URochester Medicine. As a former emergency medical technician (EMT) and volunteer firefighter, Foster has always been happiest at work when combining his interest in medicine with a passion for helping others. In the ABSN program, he was welcomed into a learning environment where he and his classmates were encouraged to tap into the perspectives they brought from their previous careers and college majors while transitioning into nursing.

“I went to school with people from all different walks of life. The program utilizes your strengths, interests, and various experiences to make the strongest group they can. Pulling from everyone's previous experiences created a great melting pot of experience and talent,” Foster shared.

As a nursing student, Foster gained hands-on clinical experiences in his future workplace that would set him up for success in a rigorous first role as a med-surg nurse. Strong, the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center, was recently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the top-ranked hospital in New York State outside of the New York City metro area.

When Foster found a unit that was the right fit for him, it further solidified his decision to continue his career at Strong. He credits his Acute Medicine team for making him a more well-rounded nurse.

“One piece of advice that I would give is for new Scholars to pick an area that is going to give them the best overall experience and support,” Foster said. “That's why I chose my unit (6-1400). The leadership and fellow nurses are there to support you and help you grow. They are always looking to help you advance and offer support every step of the way,” Foster said.

Fellow Scholars program alumna Claire Choi ’19, ’22S (MS), ’24S (MBA), ’25N, RN, also brought a unique career background with her to the program. As an undergraduate student, Choi initially dreamed of going to medical school.

She gained experience in a variety of settings that would position her for success as a healthcare leader: she worked in outpatient specialties as part of an ambulatory technician flex team, discovered a passion for clinical trials through roles as a study coordinator at Wilmot Cancer Institute and the Pediatric Infectious Disease group at Golisano Children’s, and earned her master’s in medical management at the Simon Business School.

Each of these wide-ranging experiences shared something in common: Choi always found herself working closely with nurses.

“At every step of that journey, there were always nurses. I love how multifaceted the nursing profession is, and how much flexibility it offers to pursue whatever you set your mind to. Nurses are everywhere in healthcare,” Choi said.

Choi returned to Wilmot Cancer after completing the School of Nursing’s accelerated bachelor’s program last year, and now works on the Adult Hematology/Oncology unit, serving as a liaison between patients and care teams and a resource for patients and families as they navigate cancer treatment. She’s currently pursuing a PhD in Nursing and Health Science at the School of Nursing, focusing her research on lung cancer among adults under the age of 50.

“Within 12 months, the School of Nursing equipped me with all the tools to become a confident and curious nurse,” Choi said. “The faculty encouraged my plans for continuing education and connected me with other nurse scientists who are passionate about both patient care and research. They asked challenging questions that pushed me to think more expansively and creatively.”

As she continues to grow as a clinician, leader, and researcher at URochester Medicine, the School of Nursing remains an important part of her career journey.

“Whether it's to think out loud or talk through new opportunities with former instructors and classmates, the School of Nursing remains a home base I return to,” she said.

Visit urson.us/scholars to learn more about eligibility and requirements for the UR Nursing Scholars program and 12-Month Accelerated Bachelor’s degree.

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