The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has launched the Future of Nursing Scholars Program to support nurses as they pursue their Ph.Ds.

In its landmark nursing report, the Institute of Medicine recommended that the country double the number of nurses with doctorates which would support more nurse leader, promote nurse-led science and discovery and put more educators in place to prepare the next generation of nurses.

“Implementing the Institute of Medicine nursing report is a major priority for RWJF, because we cannot achieve our mission to improve health and health care without a robust, well-educated nursing workforce and many more highly educated nurse leaders,” said Dr. John Lumpkin, RWJF senior vice president and director of the Health Care Group.

“The Ph.D-prepared nurses the Future of Nursing Scholars program supports will help identify solutions to the country’s most pressing health problems, and educate thousands of nurses over the course of their careers. They will be positioned to lead change and inspire the next generation of nurses.”

The initiative was recently launched at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, which will serve as the national program office for the Future of Nursing Scholars program.

The co-directors for the Future of Nursing Scholars program are Susan B. Hassmiller, Ph.D, RWJF’s senior adviser for nursing and Julie Fairman, Ph.D, the Nightingale professor of nursing and director of the Barbara Bates Center for the Study of the History of Nursing at the Penn’s School of Nursing.

According to the RWJF, fewer than 3,000 of the nation’s more than three million nurses have doctoral degrees in nursing, and many of them have doctor of nursing practice degrees (DNPs), not Ph.Ds, which prepare nurses to conduct research and teach. The average age at which nurses get their Ph.Ds in the U.S. is 46—13 years older than Ph.D earners in other fields.

In 2014, schools of nursing will apply to join the Future of Nursing Scholars program, which will support up to 100 Ph.D nursing candidates over its first two years. The first scholars will begin their Ph.D studies in 2015. They will receive scholarships, stipends, mentoring, leadership development, and dedicated post-doctoral research support. To expand the new program’s reach, RWJF has developed a strategic philanthropic collaborative to engage other donors.

The Independence Blue Cross Foundation is committing $450,000 over three years to support nurses in becoming transformational leaders in education, research and policy.

“Having supported nursing in our region for 10 years, we are very proud to be the first foundation to join this new collaborative, which is bringing together diverse funders to support the Ph.D-prepared nurse leaders the country needs,” said Lorina Marshall-Blake, president of the IBC Foundation.

“We expect the nurse scholars this program supports to transform health care through innovation in their communities and nationwide.”

The RWJF is the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and health care.

The Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN) is launching its “Fifth Annual Father’s Day Rally Against Prostate Cancer” with an ambitious goal of reaching one million people. This is believed to be the largest and most visible prostate cancer education and awareness effort ever undertaken with a focus on Black America.

The Rally will be held on June 16 in partnership with churches nationwide during their regular church services. Prostate cancer survivors within each congregation along with family members of those who have lost loved ones to the disease will be recognized and join hands in prayer for healing. Calvary AME Church, Shiloh Baptist Church, Ward AME Church, and Mt. Pisgah AME Church are all slated to participate.

In 2012, the Rally reached approximately 200,000 persons based on the total membership of the churches that participated. This year, PHEN will augment the Rally with prostate cancer educational symposiums in selected cities across the country. In Philadelphia, the symposium will be held on June 15 at the First Episcopal District of the AME Church at First District Plaza, 3801 Market St. from noon until 2 p.m. PHEN industry partners, members of its national survivor network, and local health providers will play integral roles in these educational activities.

“PHEN’s Annual Father’s Day Rally has proven to be an effective education and awareness outreach initiative for African American families who are the ones most impacted by prostate cancer. Because of these urgent needs, it is imperative that we build on our success and increase outreach efforts this year,” said PHEN founder and president Thomas A. Farrington. PHEN was founded in 2003 by Farrington, a prostate cancer survivor and author, with a mission to eliminate the African American prostate cancer disparity. Church partnerships which have been developed and nurtured across all denominations are the key to PHEN’s Father’s Day Rally success.

“Congregations within the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church have actively participated in the Father’s Day Rally since its inception, and we look forward to participating in the Rally’s expansion in size and scope this year,” said the Rev. Natalie Mitchem, executive director of the AME Connectional Health Commission. The AME Church has a membership of approximately 3 million persons within the United States and around the world.

Black men die at a rate 2.5 times higher than men of all other ethnic and racial groups in the United States. This disparity led the U.S. Senate, in July 2012, to pass a resolution recognizing prostate cancer to be of epidemic proportions among African American men. However, there has been significant confusion among the public caused by the ongoing debate about PSA screening and over-treatment. Simultaneously, a number of new prostate cancer treatments have been approved and there is a flurry of clinical trial activity that will undoubtedly lead to more treatment breakthroughs along with new procedures for detecting and managing prostate cancer.

“We recognize the enormous challenge in achieving our Rally’s goal this year, however, Black America must become knowledgeable about new developments and fully engaged in order to eliminate the current epidemic, and not be overlooked and risk a worsening condition. The Rally’s success is a significant opportunity for forward progress.” said Farrington.

All churches are invited to partner with PHEN by participating in the “Fifth Annual Father’s Day Rally Against Prostate Cancer.” Church registration is now open. To register and for additional information visit http://www.prostatehealthed.org/churchregister2013.php.

Services will be held May 30 for Dorothy McIntyre.

She died Monday, May 20, 2013. She was 88.

She was born May 24, 1924 to Anna and Charles Dorsey in Onancock, Va. She received her early education in Onancock, Va.. She later attended Shaw Junior/Middle School and graduated from John Bartram High School in Philadelphia

Dorothy married John McIntyre and the couple had six children.

She joined Vine Memorial Baptist Church in 1947 where she was member of the young adult board, Virginia Club, Deaconess board and Missionary Circle One.

McIntyre was also a member of Booker T. Washington Chapter No. 36 OES.

Her family said she was a wonderful wife and mother whose love extended throughout the community where she nurtured children.

She was preceded in death by her children, John and Michael.

She is survived by her children, Frances Bailey (Isaiah), Diane M. Lover (Augustus), Lorraine C. Hargrove (Moses), Douglas McIntyre; cousin, Willie Floyd; grandchildren, Cornell “Chip” Bailey, Irwin Bailey, and Rochelle Bailey, Augustus Lover III, Nickole Lover, and Shardel Lover, Moses Hargrove and Shilonda Giddings (Edward), Fatima McIntyre, John T. McIntyre III Justin, Jasmin, Jamal, Micheal II; great-grandchildren, Markita, Antoine, Maurice, Aunyua, Cydney, Augustus (Q), Sabreena, Teren, John, Daniel, Rashaad, Delquan, Rassoul, Yaseem, and Dasha; great-great grand, Kiyen; nieces and nephew, Pat Dorsey, Nick Dorsey, and Maria Dorsey; great nieces, Reese, Monique, Alona, Jasmine, Kelly, Deven, Kendra, Nickai, Ollie and Matthew; 13 great-great nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.

Services will be held May 30 at Vine Memorial Baptist Church, 5600 West Girard Avenue. Viewing is at 9 a.m. Services will follow at 10 a.m. Burial is in Rolling Green Cemetery.

Wood Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Rosella C. Washington was a musician.

Washington died on Sunday, May 19, 2013, at Penn Hospice at Rittenhouse in Philadelphia. She was 55.

She was born Nov. 2, 1957, to Stephen and Rose Clemmons in Charlotte, N.C.

Washington resided for the past 10 years in Thornbury Township, previously residing in Boothwyn.

She performed jazz and was also an inspirational singer since 1987 when she graduated from Temple University with a bachelor’s degree in music. Washington was a member of Covenant Fellowship Church.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her daughter, R. Deborah Washington.

She is survived by her husband of 21 years, Mark B. Washington; son, Mark I. Washington; mother, Jean Bowman; siblings, Stephen Hayes Sr., Wynetta L. Grier, Bonnie Stokely, Leon Polk and Gloria Polk; cousins, Sandra Lee, Stephen Hayes Jr. and Morris Hayes; mother-in-law, Jane Washington; sister-in-law, Michelle Washington and other relatives and friends.

Services will be held May 24 at 1 p.m. Covenant Fellowship Church, 1 Fellowship Drive, Glen Mills. Burial is private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to www.covenantmercies.org or to the college fund for Mark I. Washington. Checks should be made out to Fidelity Brokerage Services, endorsed on the back with For Deposit Only account #X82683269 and mailed to Fidelity Investments P.O. Box 770001 Cincinnati, OH 45277-0003.

Pagano Funeral Home handled the arrangements.