YSN students Talita Acciari and Valeria Sarmiento have been awarded $10,000 scholarships through the CVS Health Caring Hearts FNP Student Scholarship program. Both Talita and Valeria are pursuing an MSN degree with a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) specialty.
Recognizing the need to improve healthcare access and seeing family nurse practitioners as a major key to achieving that goal, the CVS Health Foundation established the Caring Hearts FNP student scholarship. The program supports FNP students who are committed to improving primary care in underserved areas.
“As an FNP student, I am developing the clinical, leadership, and advocacy skills necessary to address health disparities, particularly among immigrant and underserved populations,” said Talita. “My training emphasizes both evidence-based clinical practice and compassionate, culturally sensitive care—values that have shaped my journey from the beginning. Earning this degree will empower me to bridge the gap between medicine and humanity, ensuring that every patient feels seen, heard, and cared for.”
“I was motivated to apply for this scholarship due to personal financial barriers I face while pursing my higher nursing education at Yale,” said Valeria. “I also felt driven to apply when I thought about resources needed to continue serving the underserved communities, I have been part of. Not only do I serve Hispanic patients within my community locally in Norwalk and New Haven, CT, but I also support a project abroad that I have been a part of for years in La Guajira, Colombia, where I am originally from.” In addition to these endeavors, Valeria has volunteered with AmeriCares and HAVEN vaccine clinics as well as local soup kitchens and churches.
The FNP program prepares students to deliver comprehensive, evidence-based primary care to individuals and families across the lifespan. Emphasizing healthcare access, the program equips students to meet the needs of a broad range of communities through a strong foundation in clinical practice, policy, and interdisciplinary collaboration. A major feature of the program is its commitment to community-based learning, including immersive clinical placements and partnerships that foster culturally competent care and leadership in a variety of healthcare settings.
“I applied for this scholarship because it represents hope, opportunity, and recognition of perseverance,” said Talita. “This scholarship means more than financial assistance; it symbolizes a shared belief in the power of compassion, education, and resilience to transform lives.”