Skin, Bones, Hearts & Private Parts, a leading provider of continuing medical education, has announced that for the second year it 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 program has been expanded from four scholarships in 2026 to ten scholarships in 2027, a decision driven by the overwhelming response to last year's offering. According to Chuck Dillehay, creator of Skin, Bones, Hearts & Private Parts, the 2026 program received more than 1,500 applications for just four scholarships. "The overwhelming interest made it clear that NPs, PAs, and RNs need greater financial support as they pursue their education," Dillehay said. "By expanding the program to 10 scholarships, we will ease some of that financial burden and support more healthcare professionals."
The significance of this expansion lies in its direct response to a demonstrated need within the healthcare education community. With only four scholarships available in 2026, the program had a success rate of less than 0.3 percent for applicants. By increasing the number of awards to ten, the program will still be highly competitive, but it will provide critical assistance to more than twice as many students. Each scholarship is intended to help cover expenses such as tuition, books, and program fees, which can be substantial for students in advanced practice nursing and physician assistant programs. The financial relief comes at a time when demand for these professionals is high, and the cost of education continues to rise.
To apply, students must provide insight into their motivation for pursuing advanced education and describe how the scholarship will personally benefit them. The application is open on Bold.org until March 31, 2027, and winners will be announced on April 30, 2027. This timeline gives students ample opportunity to prepare and submit their materials, and the announcement date allows winners to plan for the upcoming academic year.
Skin, Bones, Hearts & Private Parts has a strong track record in continuing medical education. Since its founding in 2011, 25,628 nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and physicians have chosen its events, learning from 160 speakers at 106 CME conference sites and earning nearly 680,000 CME credit hours. The organization's investment in scholarships aligns with its broader mission to support healthcare professionals throughout their careers. For those interested in learning more about the CME conferences, additional information is available at SkinBonesCME.com.
The expansion of this scholarship program matters because it addresses a critical barrier to entry for many aspiring healthcare providers. Financial constraints can deter qualified individuals from pursuing advanced degrees, particularly those who are already working or have family responsibilities. By offering more scholarships, Skin, Bones, Hearts & Private Parts is not only helping individual students but also contributing to the development of a more robust healthcare workforce. As the demand for NPs, PAs, and RNs continues to grow, initiatives like this play a vital role in ensuring that talented and motivated students can complete their education and enter the field.
