Tess Carichner was the first student to be awarded the ANA-MI Foundation’s Dorthea Milbrandt Leadership Scholarship. Then a sophomore at University of Michigan, she had already established the UofM Disability Nursing Association, now named Disability Justice at Michigan, to support her passion for the care and rights of the disabled. The group started a film series which focused on disability issues which was available to all individuals across campus. Throughout her college career she has continued to work towards her aspiration of improving healthcare experiences of the disability community, which included assistance in establishing an anti-ableist library in the School of Nursing Library, and delivering a lecture on Ableism in Healthcare in the required Culture of Health nursing course.
Over the past two years, the Foundation has kept in contact with Tess and has been continuously impressed with the volume and quality of her contributions to research, outside speaking and contributions to her community. Her enthusiasm for nursing and commitment to excellence and education would have delighted Dorothea Milbrandt, a past ANA-MI Executive Director. It was Dorothea’s gift from her will that helped provide a base to create the ANA-MI FOUNDATION. Tess identified in her thank you note the honor she felt in receiving an award supported by a donation from a nurse who always encouraged higher education to improve the care of patients.
Throughout Tess’s college years she was involved in research internships and worked as a research assistant. She stated that having scholarships allowed her the flexibility to follow her educational and volunteer interests rather than having to find unrelated jobs to finance her education. This past spring Tess won the ANA-MI Exceptional Promise Award which recognizes pre-licensed nursing students, who exemplify leadership and achievement in their community and scholarly efforts. Review of her nomination application left no doubt that she is a worthy recipient of this award and had been an outstanding ANA-MI FOUNDATION scholarship choice.
Tess graduated from University of Michigan in May with minors in Global Health and Disability Studies in support of her Nursing major. She is beginning her professional career as a hospice nurse. This fall she will shift to part-time hours as she has received a scholarship for the PhD program at the University of Michigan.
There is no doubt that we will be hearing more about Tess Carichner and her contributions to patients, nurses and the profession. The ANA-MI FOUNDATION is proud to have been with her from the start.
