Haley Family Fellowship Creates Partnership Between Boston College
and Brigham and Women’s Hospital

The founders of the Brain Science Foundation, Steven and Kathleen Haley, have come to recognize that synergy is needed throughout the field of neuroscience to leverage progress in diagnosis, treatment and prevention of primary brain tumors. They also know from personal experience the difference that outstanding nursing care makes for the patient and the patient’s family and/or caregivers toward recovery. In recognition of the vital role nurses play in translating research to hospital settings and to encourage talented nurses to pursue advanced degrees in neuroscience nursing, the Haleys have privately endowed a scholarship for Brigham and Women's Hospital nurses to attend the Boston College School of Nursing for preparation in advanced practice nursing.
 
The Haleys chose to establish this scholarship at Boston College for two main reasons: 1) Kathy Haley is an alumna of Boston College and a Trustee of the school, 2) The Haleys believe that BC is the perfect place to support a field as complex and compelling as neuroscience nursing because according to Steven, “BC provides much more than a comprehensive curriculum. It stands out because it has a core value system, not just an academic system.”  Kathy Haley, whose mother was a nurse, hopes that the fellowship will provide an incentive for the best nurses to come to BC.  “We want to encourage them to go on with their studies by giving them the financial assistance they need.”

Preference is to be given to nurses employed by Brigham and Women’s Hospital or one of its affiliates (Faulkner, Children’s or Dana Farber). Eligibility is also contingent on practice and anticipated study related to neuroscience nursing. Three intensive care unit nurses were the first Haley Fellowship recipients. The scholarships allowed them to pursue advanced degrees at Boston College while working full time. 

The Haley fellowship has helped to create a new synergy between two leading Boston institutions- BC and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “We are very pleased that the fellowship dovetails not only our goals but with the goals of two institutions we both admire,” says Steven, who is a trustee of Brigham and Women’s.