About the Pamela Austin Thompson Fellowship Scholarship
Pamela Austin Thompson Legacy Match 2026 Challenge
In August, Pam Thompson established the inaugural Pamela Austin Thompson Legacy Match Challenge with a generous leadership gift of $8,999—enough to fund one Fellowship scholarship. Now, she is inviting the AONL Fellowship alumni, colleagues and friends to join her in investing in the future of nurse leadership. Our goal is to raise $36,000, providing four nurse manager/nurse director Fellowship scholarships for outstanding nurse leaders to participate in the AONL Fellowship during the 2027–2028 program year.
Pam Thompson, MS, RN, FAAN, is chief executive officer emeritus of the AONL. Prior to her appointment, she served 16 years as AONL chief nursing officer and senior vice president nursing/chief nursing officer of the American Hospital Association. She was responsible for the management and administrative leadership of AONL, as well as the AHA Workforce Center and addressing issues specific to strengthening the healthcare workforce and the redesign of patient care delivery. Before joining AONL, Pam was vice president of the Children's Hospital, Obstetrics, Psychiatric Services, and Strategic Planning at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.
Pam started the Nurse Manager Fellowship Program in 2008 and the Nurse Director Fellowship Program in 2012. Before retiring in 2016, she established a strong foundation for developing nurse leaders across all levels—work that ultimately paved the way for the Nurse Executive Fellowship Program, launched in 2019. Following her retirement, the Pamela Austin Thompson Fellowship Scholarship was established to recognize her many contributions to the nursing leadership profession. The scholarship supports the Nurse Manager and Nurse Director Fellowship programs and the nurse leaders who participate in them.
"I am very proud that AONL continues to offer the Nurse Manager Fellowship, Nurse Director Fellowship and the Nurse Executive Fellowship to nurse leaders. We have often heard from alumni of these programs that they were "life altering". They bring together outstanding speakers and experiences to challenge and develop our leaders of the future. The Pamela Austin Thompson Fellowship Scholarship provides financial support to the Nurse Manager and Nurse Director Fellowships, prioritizing small, rural, and critical access hospitals. It is the goal of the Foundation to assure that nurses from our smaller hospitals can access these enriching programs. Please help us continue making these scholarships available."
- Pam Thompson, MS, RN, FAAN
The Scholarship
The AONL Foundation is committed to supporting nurse leaders from small, rural, and critical access healthcare organizations by expanding access to professional development opportunities that strengthen their leadership capabilities. Through scholarships, the Foundation helps ensure leaders have the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to drive innovation, improve patient outcomes, and advance healthcare in the communities they serve. See past Pamela Austin Thompson Scholarship recipients.
Meet Rebecca, the 2026 Scholarship Recipient
Rebecca Simmons, MSA, BSN, RN, NE-BC, is at a small independent hospital, Goshen Health in Goshen, Ind., where she is director of home care, hospice and care transitions. Goshen Health serves many rural and underserved populations, including a high threshold of undocumented patients and Amish families.
Pam has sparked this special matching opportunity with a generous leadership gift of $8,999, enough to fund one AONL Fellowship scholarship. Now, she invites you to join us in raising $36,000 to provide three Fellowship scholarships for the 2027–2028 program year.