The IBX Foundation team with Jared Lyon, President and CEO of Student Veterans of America (SVA) at the SVA national headquarters in DC (fourth from left)
The Post 9/11 Veterans to Nurses Initiative supports student veterans to become nurses
On September 10, the Independence Blue Cross (IBX) Foundation brought student veterans and higher education leaders to Washington, D.C. to meet with federal policymakers and highlight the impact of the IBX Foundation Service Scholars® Pathway Program, a nationally recognized workforce model.
The delegation met with U.S. Senator Dave McCormick, Representative Madeleine Dean, Representative Mary Gay Scanlon, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chair Mike Bost, and representatives from the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and the Office of Representative Chrissy Houlahan. Discussions focused on how the Service Scholars model is helping veterans transition into nursing careers while addressing critical healthcare workforce shortages.
The day concluded with a reception hosted by Student Veterans of America which included a conversation with Darrell Owens, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Launched in 2023, Service Scholars is the nation’s only pathway for student veterans pursuing their first degree in nursing. It enhances benefits offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Yellow Ribbon Program and provides colleges and universities with resources to support student veterans beyond the classroom.
The initiative directly addresses Pennsylvania’s projected shortage of 20,000 nurses by 2026 and creates meaningful career opportunities for military veterans. It is part of the IBX Foundation’s $90 million commitment to strengthen the health workforce, improve healthcare access, and enable solutions for better community health.
To learn more about the Service Scholars program, read more here:
