Maryland's Health Matters - UM Shore Regional Health - Fall 2016 - 16

FOCUS ON PHILANTHROPY
I N C H E ST E R TOW N

Scholarships Are Helping Make
Dreams Come True

hanks to ongoing and generous contributions from
the community, University of Maryland Chester River
Health Foundation offers four scholarship funds to
help UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown team

members advance their health care education. These funds
have supported many of the hospital's nursing staff in completing their two-year associate's degree in nursing, which
prepares them to sit for the Registered Nurse licensure exam,
and also in pursuing their bachelor's, master's and other
advanced-practice degrees in nursing.
Recently, UM SMC at Chestertown's Auxiliary expanded the
guidelines of the Kitty Clements Scholarship Fund so that staff
who qualify and agree to a post-graduation work commitment
can receive support from the Foundation to continue their
education in any related field.
Louise Dove, RN, the second of three generations in her
family to serve the hospital, has been a nurse for more than
39 years-19 of them in Chestertown. She began as a licensed
practical nurse working the night shift, and after a few years,
became an RN.
"Getting a bachelor's is something I've always wanted,

but I was raising my family," Dove explains. "Now that the
hospital is working toward Magnet® certification, I knew it was
time to go back to school. Having a BSN will allow me to
mentor the younger BSN nurses who don't have the clinical
experience I have but are very smart!"
Dove also has five grandchildren. "Scholarship support

UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown staff members
Louise Dove and Deonte' Boyd are shown with Jack
Edson, president of the Chester River Hospital Center Auxiliary
and a board member for the Chester River Health Foundation.
Dove and Boyd are excited to advance their careers with
the help of scholarship support provided by the Foundation.

"It was time for me to go back to school."
This year, Boyd enrolled in University of Maryland University College's undergraduate program in Health Services

from the Foundation has made it possible for me to go back

Management. He maintains a 4.0 GPA while pursuing

to school and set an example for them," she says.

another goal-to avoid incurring any student debt. Dr. Davis

Deonte' T. Boyd, registered radiology technologist, has
worked the night shift for six years at UM SMC at Chestertown,
providing x-ray and CT services. "We're a family taking care

wrote a letter of recommendation for him to receive
scholarship support from the Foundation.
"Although I'm just starting my undergraduate degree,

of family," says Boyd. "Working here allows me the time to get

Dr. Davis is encouraging me to continue on for a master's

to know my patients. I like that."

degree," Boyd says. "My scholarships have allowed me to quit

Three years ago, Deonte' set a goal of saving money to buy
a house and pay off his wife's student loans, which required
moving in with his in-laws and getting a second job.
"Dr. Deb Davis, director of Emergency Services at the
hospital, gave me a vision, almost a challenge," Boyd says.

MARYLAND'S HEALTH MATTERS

the second job so that I have time to spend with family."
An Eastern Shore native, Boyd is the first in his family to
graduate from college and has high aspirations. "With
scholarship assistance, maybe I'll be the CEO of a hospital
one day," he says.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maryland's Health Matters - UM Shore Regional Health - Fall 2016