Jefferson’s Nursing Department Receives Funding for their GEAR-UP Project
Graduate Education Accelerated Routes for Underserved Persons

Philadelphia, PA, September 7, 2001 – Thomas Jefferson University’s College of Health Professions’ Nursing Department has received a grant in the amount of $281,274.00 for GEAR-UP (Graduate Education Accelerated Routes for Underserved Persons) from the Division of Nursing, Bureau of Health Professions, and Department of Health and Human Services.

GEAR-UP is a project designed to implement and evaluate a program to increase the number of advanced practice nurses from ethnically/racially and/or economically underserved backgrounds. It will recruit registered nurses who have completed their basic nursing education at either a diploma or associate degree program and who are in a position to meet, without delay, the requirement for matriculation into an accelerated track to the master of science degree in nursing.

Dr. Elizabeth Speakman is serving as the interim coordinator for the GEAR-UP project. She is contacting diploma and associate degree nursing programs to inform them of this program and to lay the groundwork for recruiting student participants. “Dr. Speakman has extensive background in nursing at the community college level and has done some work with IMPART (Improving Minority Professionals’ Access to Research Tracks) students and is well versed in our efforts to increase the numbers of minorities in nursing, especially those prepared at the advanced practice level,” stated Margaret Griffiths, MSN, RN, GEAR-UP Project Director.

GEAR-UP is consistent with Healthy People 2010 goals that will produce a cadre of professionals particularly sensitive to the needs of the most vulnerable populations and who are especially prepared to improve the health status of racial and ethnic minorities, particularly those with low incomes.

Mrs. Griffiths added, “Participants in GEAR-UP will be afforded the opportunity to move through Thomas Jefferson University’s highly regarded accelerated program for registered nurses who have a degree in a field other than nursing.”

As the 21 st century evolves, culturally diverse cohorts of children, women of childbearing age, and the elderly are expected to grow, increasing the need for culturally and gender-sensitive providers of healthcare, particularly those prepared with advanced practice knowledge and skill. GEAR-UP builds on a successful model of recruiting students from community colleges of nursing to baccalaureate and higher degree programs and expands the knowledge gained from this initiative to other nursing programs in this urban area. It emphasizes counseling, support, nurturing and mentoring as strategies to enhance retention and ensure academic success.

For more information about the about the GEAR-UP project, please contact Margaret Griffiths, MSN, RN at 215-503-7557 or Margaret.griffiths@jefferson.edu.

The Jefferson College of Health Professions of Thomas Jefferson University, founded in 1969 and located in the heart of Philadelphia, provides innovative academic programs to a highly qualified, culturally diverse student population, with the primary goal of developing outstanding professionals and future leaders in health care. The College offers fully accredited bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in diagnostic imaging, laboratory sciences, nursing, occupational therapy and physical therapy. In addition, the College offers selected health certificate programs and associate degrees in general studies.

Back