For the second year, Skin, Bones, Hearts & Private Parts, a leading provider of continuing medical education, will award $500 scholarships to adult learners enrolled in Nurse Practitioner (NP), Physician Assistant (PA), and Registered Nurse (RN) programs at accredited universities in the United States. The expansion from four scholarships in 2026 to ten in 2027 represents a direct response to the overwhelming demand seen last year, when more than 1,500 applications were received for just four awards.
The significance of this announcement lies in its recognition of a critical barrier facing the healthcare workforce: the financial burden of advanced education. With ten scholarships of $500 each, the program will help defray costs such as tuition, books, and program fees for more students. Chuck Dillehay, creator of Skin, Bones, Hearts & Private Parts, noted, "We offered four scholarships in 2026 and received more than 1,500 applications—an incredible response. The overwhelming interest made it clear that NPs, PAs, and RNs need greater financial support as they pursue their education. By expanding the program to 10 scholarships, we will ease some of that financial burden and support more healthcare professionals."
The scholarship application is open on Bold.org until March 31, 2027, and winners will be announced on April 30, 2027. Applicants must provide insight into their motivation for pursuing advanced education and describe how the scholarship will personally benefit them. This requirement underscores the program's emphasis on supporting individuals who are not only financially needy but also deeply committed to advancing their careers in healthcare.
The implications of this expansion extend beyond the individual recipients. By increasing the number of scholarships, Skin, Bones, Hearts & Private Parts is addressing a broader need within the healthcare system. Nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and registered nurses are essential to meeting the growing demand for primary and specialty care in the United States. Financial constraints can prevent talented individuals from completing their education, exacerbating workforce shortages. This scholarship program helps mitigate that risk by providing tangible assistance to those who might otherwise struggle to afford their studies.
Moreover, the overwhelming response to last year's scholarship offering—1,500 applications for four awards—signals that the financial need is widespread and acute. The decision to more than double the number of scholarships demonstrates a commitment to listening to the community and responding proactively. It also sets a precedent for other organizations in the medical education space to consider similar initiatives.
Skin, Bones, Hearts & Private Parts has a track record of supporting healthcare professionals through its CME conferences. Since its founding in 2011, 25,628 nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and physicians have chosen the event, learning from 160 speakers at 106 CME conference sites and earning nearly 680,000 CME credit hours. For more information about the CME conferences, visit SkinBonesCME.com or call 770.640.1022.
The scholarship program's expansion not only provides immediate financial relief but also reinforces the importance of investing in the next generation of healthcare providers. As the demand for accessible, high-quality care continues to rise, initiatives like this help ensure that qualified students can pursue their educational goals without being deterred by cost. The winners will be announced in April 2027, marking another step in supporting the backbone of the American healthcare system.
