I Am Abel Foundation is celebrating the memory and legacy of Patricia Ann Conway, RN, BSN, by launching a scholarship in her honor for young women of color pursuing a career in nursing.
Pat Conway, as she was often called, celebrated over a 40 year career in nursing that she began humbly as a visiting nurse for over 20 years. When the field of nursing would shift and LPNs were at that time being phased out, she would find herself out of work and in an uncomfortable space. This uncomfortable space, however, was the inspiration for her to return to school and get her RN and BSN, which was in fact her lifelong dream.
She would graduate from Chicago State's Nursing Program and continue her work in Chicago area hospitals. She would ultimately finish her career teaching clinical nursing for the Chicago Public School's Nursing Program at Crane High School on the west side. She was the clinical preceptor for these high school students while they learned bedside nursing at Jesse Brown VA, then called West Side Veteran's Administration Hospital. Her journey in nursing would take her a long way from her days growing up on Chicago's south side where she dropped out of high school to support her family. She ultimately received her GED and launched her career in nursing.
Pat Conway is the mother of I Am Abel Foundation Board Member, Jacques Conway and the mother-in-law of our Founder, LaMenta Sweetie Conway, MD, MPH. During Pat Conway's life, she was a huge supporter of the I Am Abel Foundation, until Alzheimer's took away her ability to engage and support. But before that time, she generously supported this foundation geared to support future physicians. She was such a boss and her work was so powerful, that I Am Abel Foundation would like to support future nurses in her honor through this scholarship fund named in her honor. Every good doctor knows that nurses are the Marines of medicine and the real MVPs. Today, Jacques and LaMenta Conway and I Am Abel Foundation, remember the powerful and meaningful life of Patricia Ann Conway - A true "Hero in Healthcare."
In lieu of flowers of gifts, please consider donating to the scholarship named in her honor supporting future nurses. Please choose "Pre-Health Scholarship" and on the dedication line, please write "Pat's Nursing Scholarship"
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