Fairfield University's Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing & Health Studies Doctorate of Nursing Practice students, Michelle Laspino, BSN, RN and Carissa Corraro, BSN, RN, are two of the five recipients of the prestigious Jonas Nursing and Veterans Healthcare and the Susan D. Flynn Oncology Nursing Development Program scholarship. The scholarships will be used to improve healthcare for oncology patients. 

“We are thrilled to continue our strong partnership with the Jonas Nursing and Veterans Healthcare and the Susan D. Flynn Oncology Nursing Development Program scholarship,” said Meredith Kazer, PhD, dean of the Egan School. “Over the past years, this partnership has provided Egan with the opportunity to educate Egan undergraduate and graduate students to become oncology nurses. Through this support, we are confident that Michelle and Carissa will add greatly to this legacy of excellence and contribute substantially to the care of oncology patients.”

The Susan D. Flynn Oncology Nursing Fellowship program was launched in 2013 in memory of Susan D. Flynn, who died of ovarian cancer. The highly competitive fellowship's objective is to provide aspiring nursing students nationwide, comprehensive clinical exposure to “best practices” oncology nursing care.

An oncology nurse at Bridgeport Hospital, Corraro plans to be a nurse practitioner and teach nursing students at the university level following the completion of her DNP program at Fairfield. She was a Flynn Fellow at Stamford Hospital in 2018. 

Laspino is an oncology nurse at Harford Healthcare Cancer Institute. After completing her degree at Fairfield Egan, she plans to become an oncology or palliative care APRN. She also served as a Flynn Fellow in 2015 at St. Vincent’s Medical Center.

The Jonas-Flynn scholarship is made possible by a partnership between Jonas Philanthropies and the Susan D. Flynn Oncology Nursing Development Program. The goal of Jonas Philanthropies is to improve healthcare by financing areas where it is most needed. An important component of that mission is the promotion of nursing leadership through investment in doctoral nursing students who will go on to positions as professors, clinical leaders, and researchers. 

“We are proud to be partnering with Jonas Nursing and Veterans Healthcare of Jonas Philanthropies in this special DNP scholarship program,” said Frederick C. Flynn Jr., founder of the Susan D. Flynn Oncology Nursing Development Program. “We are also grateful for this unique collaborative opportunity to continue our support of oncology nursing clinical practice and research in order to improve the prevention, treatment, and quality of life outcomes for cancer patients and their families.” 

To learn more about graduate programs at Fairfield Egan, visit fairfield.edu/gradnursing.