Heather Major, Executive Director of the Independence Blue Cross (IBX) Foundation, has been recognized as one of 20 recipients of Modern Healthcare’s 2025 Innovators Awards. Major is being recognized for her leadership and groundbreaking efforts to solve our nation’s urgent need for more highly skilled nurses.
Major’s recognition acknowledges her role in designing the novel IBX Foundation Service Scholars Program, a pathway for student veterans pursuing their first degree in nursing.
Service Scholars enhances educational benefits available through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Yellow Ribbon Program. Participating schools receive additional support for student veteran career development and mentoring.
In May, 10 of the Service Scholars Program’s inaugural cohort of 18 students are set to graduate from nursing schools in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Service Scholars is part of the Foundation’s $90 million commitment to strengthen the health workforce, improve healthcare access, and enable solutions for better health, including more than $23 million to date to grow the number of prepared nurses through scholarship and pathway programs.
Each year, Modern Healthcare honors individuals and organizations that are driving innovation in healthcare and delivering measurable improvements in quality of care. The complete list of award winners can be found in Modern Healthcare.
