Karlene Kerfoot Grant Recipients

Marcia will be using the granted funds to attend the 2027 American Nursing Informatics Association (ANIA) Annual Conference in San Francisco, to expand her knowledge of how nurse leaders are successfully integrating technology into clinical practice, quality improvement, and healthcare transformation. Upon receiving the grant, she stated, “This is an exciting opportunity to strengthen my knowledge while extending that learning to the graduate nursing students and practicing nurse leaders I work with. Healthcare technology will continue to change, and I believe nurses must be prepared not simply to use new technologies, but to evaluate how they can improve quality, safety, and patient care. I am grateful for the opportunity to bring what I learn back to the nurses and nurse leaders who are leading change in healthcare.”

Brian will apply the funds granted toward tuition and educational expenses for the Penn State Smeal College of Business’s Hybrid Master of Applied AI for Business Transformation. Upon receiving the grant, he shared “This is an incredible honor and an investment not only in my own growth, but in what I hope to bring back to nursing. I am passionate about exploring how AI and emerging technologies can help nurse leaders work smarter, strengthen frontline teams, and ultimately improve the care we provide to our patients.

As an emergency department leader, I see every day how the right technology, thoughtfully applied, gives nurses more time for what matters most: their patients. This grant is helping me pursue a master's degree in applied AI so I can bring that thinking back to the bedside and help shape how nursing leads the way in healthcare innovation. I'm deeply grateful to The DAISY Foundation, symplr, and AONL for investing in nurses who want to build that future.”

Kelly will be using the granted funds to obtain her Epic certification to enhance her ability to translate clinical needs into technology-enabled solutions that improve patient care, safety, and workforce efficiency.

She reflected on this opportunity and shared that “Receiving the Karlene Kerfoot Grant is truly an honor. I’m passionate about finding ways to use technology and innovation to improve the workload of nurses and to give them more time to focus on what matters most, caring for patients. This grant gives me the opportunity to keep learning, bring new ideas back to my organization, and help shape what the future of nursing can look like.”

Monique will be using the granted funds to attend the 2026 American Nursing Informatics Association (ANIA) Annual Conference in Boston, Massachusetts, to gain knowledge about what current healthcare systems are doing to support the nursing workload and flow, while continuing to increase patient engagement and satisfaction.

Upon receiving the grant, she stated, “I am honored and grateful to be selected as the recipient of the Karlene Kerfoot Grant.  This award is truly an investment in furthering my knowledge and voice as a nurse leader in clinical informatics.  Specifically, this grant enables me to attend the upcoming American Nursing Informatics Association (ANIA) conference this spring.  I am excited to engage with national leaders, absorb new research, and learn innovative processes from subject matter experts across the country.  I intend to disseminate what I learn locally at my institution, thereby directly augmenting my clinical research, projects, and care for patients, and contributing to broader organizational advancements. As a first-time attendee, I plan to leverage this opportunity to seek avenues for direct involvement with ANIA leadership, ensuring I can maximize my contribution to the field”.

Mary Joy will be using the funds granted for a professional certificate in data science from Purdue University to deepen her expertise in applying AI to nursing workflows, allowing for enhanced patient safety, equity, and personalized care.

When asked what receiving this grant meant to her, she told us she was “Deeply honored to receive the Karlene Kerfoot Education Grant. This support means more than advancing my education—it’s a commitment to lead with purpose, ensuring technology serves humanity. I’m excited to use this opportunity to champion ethical AI and ensure nurses remain at the heart of compassionate, equitable care. As I often say, ‘True leadership is about inspiring transformation—turning vision into reality while lifting others along the way.'"