(Providence, RI) – Women & Infants Hospital and Scholars Network announced the launch of the Women & Infants Scholars Program, a new program designed to strengthen the pipeline of healthcare professionals. This initiative provides nursing students with the opportunity to secure employment at Women & Infants Hospital, offering the added benefit of student loan repayment.
Through the Women & Infants Scholars Program, enrolled nursing students who commit to joining Women & Infants upon graduation and licensure will receive $45,000 in loan repayment over a three-year period.
By significantly reducing the burden of educational debt, the program empowers students to focus on developing clinical expertise and preparing for long-term careers in healthcare.
“At Women & Infants Hospital, developing the next generation of nursing leaders is one of our highest priorities,” said Kim Francis, Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services & Chief Nursing Officer, Women & Infants Hospital. “Through this program, we’re able to support promising students, engage with them early in their education, and strengthen our workforce in ways that help ensure exceptional care for the patients and communities we serve.”
The need to strengthen upstream nurse staffing pipelines is critical, especially in Rhode Island. The state continues to face growing demand for registered nurses and advanced practice nurses, driven by an aging population, rising care needs, and a wave of workforce retirements that are intensifying pressure on hospitals and health systems. Supporting new nurses as they enter the field is essential to ensuring Rhode Islanders maintain access to safe, high-quality care now and in the future.
“By supporting students early in their journey, we help shape confident, capable healthcare leaders of the future,” said Francis. “This program reflects our belief in strong partnerships that empower learners while making a lasting impact on the communities we care for.”
The Women & Infants Scholars Program is designed not only to provide financial relief but also to support early engagement, advising, and career planning. Students will engage with Women & Infants professionals throughout their training, ensuring they are supported both academically and professionally as they transition into practice.
The Scholars Network emphasizes local leadership in shaping the program, directly supporting students dedicated to giving back to their communities.
Applications are now open, and many students have already shown interest in joining the inaugural cohort. To learn more about the Women & Infants Scholars Program, visit https://scholars-network.com/womenandinfants.
About Women & Infants Hospital
Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, a Care New England hospital, is one of the nation’s leading specialty hospitals for women and newborns. A major teaching affiliate of The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University for obstetrics, gynecology, and newborn pediatrics, as well as a number of specialized programs in women’s medicine, Women & Infants is the ninth largest stand-alone obstetrical service in the country and the largest in New England, with approximately 8,700 deliveries per year. Women & Infants is a Designated Baby-Friendly® USA hospital and was recently ranked by Newsweek as one of America’s Best Maternity Hospitals in 2024. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology ranked 11 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Best Medical Schools specialty ranking.
Women & Infants has been designated as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiography; a Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology; and a Neonatal Resource Services Center of Excellence. It is one of the largest and most prestigious research facilities in high-risk and normal obstetrics, gynecology, and newborn pediatrics in the nation, and is a member of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Maternal Fetal Medicine Units Network, and Pelvic Floors Disorders Network, as well as the National Cancer Institute’s Gynecologic Oncology Group.
About Scholars Network
Scholars Network, operated by Noodle, partners with health systems, combining clinical and higher education expertise to solve some of healthcare’s biggest challenges: recruitment, retention, and upskilling of talent. Scholars Network’s dedicated team is there throughout, helping to support each student through their recruitment, enrollment, education, and employment. https://scholars-network.com/