The Spring 2022 Joseph J. Bogdan, Inc. Healthcare Professional Scholarship Winner

Kailyn Hinrichsen

We are honored to name Kailyn as our Spring 2022 award winner. Kailyn is currently an ICU RN and will be continuing her education at Northeastern University in May 2022. Projected to graduate in 2025, Kailyn greatly appreciates the sacrifices it takes to earn a higher education and pursue the field of medicine.

Read Kailyn’s Essay:

It would be a privilege to receive the Joseph J. Bogdan, Inc. Healthcare Professional Scholarship because every bit counts to alleviate the financial burden of going through a Doctoral Nurse Anesthesia program. I have dedicated nearly eight years to critical care nursing and my love for it is still strong. However, the emotional and physical tax on my mind and body has made it clear to me that this is not a sustainable career choice.

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work in various hospitals and ICUs across the country. Working with and learning from nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) in a multitude of settings has helped me learn more about their profession, so much so, that I have decided to pursue this as my next career path. I am enrolled in Northeastern University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice - Nurse Anesthesia (DNP NA) program starting in May 2022, and I am honored and humbled to take on this challenge. I am confident that I can bring my excellent bedside manner to the Operating Room and provide safe and exceptional care to patients requiring anesthesia. Having experienced surgery myself, I understand how scary it can be, sometimes the fear of being put to sleep is scarier than the thought of the surgeon coming at you with a scalpel. I have a great appreciation for the role a CRNA plays in creating a safe perioperative experience for each patient.

Tuition alone for this program is $129,745, not including nearly $17,000 for clinical fees, $5,000 for health insurance, and various other fees and costs of the program. The financial requirement to complete this program is steep, with the FAFSA only loaning $20,500 per year. I have committed these months prior to the program start date, to work on bridging the gap between the cost of the program and the federal loans available to me. My goal is to set myself up for success the best I can knowing that it will not be possible for me to work while going through this intensive, full-time, three year program.

I was born and raised in Denver, CO by my dad, a Midwesterner from South Sioux City, and my mom, a third generation Colorado native. I come from a blue-collar family, nothing ever in surplus, but nothing to complain about. I am thankful that I wasn’t raised with money available to me. It has sculpted my character, my work ethic, and my values. My sister and I were first-generation college graduates, and we were taught to appreciate the hard work, the grit, and the reward of earning something. I am choosing to dive into more debt, just when I can make the claim that I am debt free, because I believe that this debt is worth it to pursue a career I am passionate about. This scholarship would help me accrue less debt and that is invaluable. Thank you for your consideration and for providing this scholarship opportunity in the first place.