Nursing student at Case Western Reserve University awarded $5,000 scholarship to support
career advancement in cardiac care by the nonprofit dedicated to advancing treatment of and education for congenital heart defects
Hollis, NH (November 8, 2022) – Heartfelt Dreams Foundation, a nonprofit organization
dedicated to enhancing the treatment experience for congenital heart defect (CHD) patients
and their families is proud to announce Erica Yang as its 2022 Academic Nursing Scholarship
recipient. A Case Western Reserve University nursing student and Plano, Texas native, Yang was
awarded $5,000 toward her nursing studies for the next academic year.
Yang was selected as the scholarship recipient from a field of of over 250 applicants. Yang is
expected to graduate from Case Western Reserve University in May 2023 and continue her
career in cardiac nursing. She is currently a Patient Care Nursing Assistant at Cleveland Clinic
and gained nursing experience at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Duke University
Hospital. Heartfelt Dreams Foundation selected her application in part due to her philosophy of
being a life-long learner who wants to further educate and better treat patients with
cardiovascular disorders.
“We are ecstatic to award Erica with our 2022 Academic Nursing Scholarship and hope it can
support her path toward becoming a cardiovascular nurse who will bring positive impact to
patients,” said Eric Ankerud, CEO, President, and Co-Founder of Heartfelt Dreams Foundation.
“Erica stood out because of her emphasis on better educating patients about congenital heart
defects and always providing empathy in care. We believe that Erica will not only provide
quality care for CHD patients, but up-level the overall care of cardiac patients wherever she
goes next in her nursing career.”
Since 2019, Heartfelt Dreams Foundation has awarded an annual scholarship through a
competitive application process to a hospital-based cardiac care nurse or nursing student
pursuing a career in cardiac care. The Heartfelt Dreams Foundation Academic Nursing
Scholarship was created to further the development of cardiac nurses in hospitals throughout
the country with financial assistance that will support the applicants’ goals to advance their
nursing careers. Scholarship recipients will be making a genuine difference in the delivery of
quality healthcare for congenital heart defect patients.
“I am incredibly honored to have been selected as this year’s scholarship recipient,” said Yang.
“Thank you, Heartfelt Dreams Foundation, for your generosity, this scholarship will enable me
to further my career in more ways than I can express, and I am beyond grateful for the support
and token of faith.
Heartfelt Dreams Foundation strives to see every CHD patient lead a long, healthy and
meaningful life. The Foundation is committed to facilitating greater access to care and
treatment for CHD patients of all ages and strengthens the network of specialty heart centers
and physicians across the country. For more information about the Heartfelt Dreams
Foundation Academic Nursing Scholarship, please visit www.heartfeltdreamsfoundation.org.
About Heartfelt Dreams Foundation:
Founded in 2019 by Lori and Eric Ankerud, Heartfelt Dreams Foundation (HDF) is the only
nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to the dual mission of improving the CHD
treatment experience for patients and families and advancing CHD education within the
medical community. Congenital heart defects are the number one birth defect in the United
States and there are more than two million Americans living with CHD. Heartfelt Dreams
Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life for these patients and their families,
increasing the number of cardiologists and medical facilities capable of properly treating CHD,
and facilitating connections between patients and the medical community. Please find more
information at www.heartfeltdreamsfoundation.org and follow HDF on Facebook and Twitter.
Contact: Drew Naisuler, dnaisuler@elevatecom.com, 781-858-4697
