NEF Mourns Charles Hamlin, MD, 1939 - 2026
Dr. Charles Hamlin, a renowned orthopedic hand surgeon and humanitarian, passed away on January 14, 2026. Among his copious accomplishments, he started a clinic in Colorado to improve the hand functionality of patients with spinal cord and brain injuries, and founded the Chinle Hand Clinic, which provided surgical services to people from the Navajo Nation at no cost.
An NEF scholarship was created in his name in 2021, with the help of board member Cynthia Sculco, and awarded in 2022 to Zachary Taylor, in 2023 to Catherine Stephens, in 2024 to Jason Bloomquist, and in 2025 to Lizzet Carmona. The award furthers Dr. Hamlin’s priorities: the study and care of people of diverse cultures; the specialty of orthopedic nursing care; and the prevention of burnout for all healthcare professionals.
Please click here to read the obituary.
FEATURED SCHOLAR
Yoonjae Lee
(2025-2026 Winner)
The recipient of the 2025-2026 NEF Isabel Hampton Robb scholarship is Yoonjae Lee, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC. Currently she is a PhD student at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing) and receiv... read more.
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Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. (NEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established by nurses for nurses in 1912, and since then, the organization has awarded over 1,500 scholarships to support the pursuit of advanced degrees in nursing.
NEF’s named scholarships, created with a minimum donation of $50,000, honor and memorialize nurse leaders, from Isabel Hampton Robb to Thelma Schorr to Susan Bowar-Ferres. 100% of donations help to keep NEF scholarships funded in perpetuity; organization expenses are covered by prudent management of NEF’s investments.