American Cancer Society Supports USF Oncology Nursing Excellence for 23 Years

This year, for the first time ever, the University of South Florida College of Nursing received three American Cancer Society (ACS) grants for graduate nursing students in each degree category: Master’s degree, DNP, and PhD. The College has received a remarkable $737,000 in student and faculty support from the American Cancer Society (ACS) since 1989.

This year’s award recipients include Sarah Mountney, Jana L. Perun, and Sara Tinsley. Mountney is a master’s degree student majoring in Nursing/Oncology ARNP. Perun is pursuing her DNP degree, and Tinsley is working toward her PhD in Nursing.

“I am so grateful that ACS has been there for us all of these years,” said Susan C. McMillan, PhD, ARNP, FAAN, Distinguished Professor and Thompson Professor of Oncology Nursing at USF College of Nursing. “It is wonderful to be able to compete for this pot of money to support my students, and I am delighted that we have won three of these very competitive awards”

The overall purpose of these scholarships is to provide support for graduate students pursuing a degree in Nursing with an overall goal to strengthen nursing practice by providing assistance for advanced preparation in the field of cancer nursing: clinical practice, education, and administration. Students working on their master’s degrees and DNPs receive $10,000 per year, for two academic years, and those working on their PhDs receive $15,000 per year, for two academic years.

“This is absolutely spectacular!” said Cindy L. Munro, PhD, RN, ANP-BC, FAAN, Professor and Associate Dean, Research and Innovation. “I think that the biggest payoff is from the students whose lives are transformed by the experience and the support. Again, absolutely spectacular, and definitely worth it.”

ACS has provided an amount of $437,000 in scholarships for 26 Nursing students receiving their master’s, doctorate of nursing practice (DNP), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. In addition, ACS provided a $300,000 for the Oncology master’s program by naming Dr. McMillan as ASC Professor of Oncology Nursing from 1990 to 2000.

For more information on graduate grants and scholarship please visit ACS’ web site at www.acs.org.