For Shirwa Geele, a Master of Nursing student in the Health Systems, Leadership and Administration program at Bloomberg Nursing, receiving the 2024-2025 GNSS Black and Indigenous Student Award, affirmed his commitment to improving health systems, and enabled him to apply to graduate school sooner.
The GNSS Black and Indigenous Student Award was established in 2022 and provides financial support for graduate nursing students who have been deeply affected by systemic racism, prejudice, injustice and inequity.
Geele says that after learning about this award, it also demonstrated for him that Bloomberg Nursing is committed to fostering growth in individuals with lived experiences of racial injustice and inequity, not just through words but through action.
“The instructors at Bloomberg Nursing are not only highly knowledgeable they are also highly invested in you as a person and growing your potential,” says Geel of his time in the program.
Education of any kind he says is an investment, professionally, personally, and financially. Receiving support through award funds like the GNSS Black and Indigenous Student Award, means that there is less pressure on students to work while studying in order meet the daily requirements to live and pay for their education.
“This award allowed me to apply to a graduate degree sooner. I hope that for other students, knowing this award exists means they don’t wait to apply to graduate school in order to advance in their careers as nurse leaders,” says Geele.
A vision for leadership and system change
In terms of his own career, Geele has a vision of what he wants to accomplish in the next decade. Working in nursing leadership and managing both the operational and practice side of nursing is something he is drawn he says, because of his passion for improving care quality and resolving the fractures he has seen in the health system across all settings.
“I don’t want to be just a cog in the system I want to make meaningful change, that includes translating knowledge into practice,” says Geele.
Resolving issues within the health system has motivated him to pursue graduate education that he already believes is helping him towards his goal of eventually becoming the next Chief Nursing Office of Ontario. The MN HSLA program at Bloomberg Nursing is providing him with a foundation to do exactly that.
“I chose Bloomberg Nursing at U of T because the courses aligned with what I wanted to learn. Research methodologies, program planning and evaluation, and clinical placements with healthcare leaders, are all designed to help you grow in your career,” says Geele.
Looking ahead and giving back
He is set to graduate in 2026 from the program and is excited for what the future has in store for him, including being a potential donor himself who can one day offer an award to another student in his position.
“I’m very thankful to anyone who donates and shares what they have to build a steppingstone for others, which I think is a central message of giving back,” says Geele. “I hope one day to be able to pay it forward.”
Support future nurses and give to the GNSS Black and Indigenous Student Award.
Or contact Senior Development Officer – Nicole Landa