RSF Women’s Fund grant to jump start Perinatal Nurse Specialty Training at USD Hahn School of Nursing

The Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund has awarded the esteemed Gayle Gillies-Mize Award to the University of San Diego’s Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, recognizing its groundbreaking efforts to address maternal health disparities in San Diego County, according to a news release.

The Hahn School will use the $25,000 grant to implement a graduate-level program to train Perinatal Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) who play a crucial role in managing high-risk pregnancies and improving maternal and infant outcomes. The program is expected to significantly increase the number of CNS specialists who serve over 600,000 women of child-bearing age in San Diego County.

San Diego County has seen a troubling rise in maternal mortality between 2002 and 2021, with rates increasing from 12.7 to 14.5 per 100,000 live births, the news release stated.

Faculty lead and Director of the program Dr. Sheree Scott said in the news release, “This award is an incredible honor and a meaningful endorsement of our commitment to addressing maternal health disparities. As the faculty lead on the development of this new Perinatal Clinical Nurse Specialist program, I’ve seen firsthand how urgently our region needs nurses with this advanced expertise.

“The Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science is proud to be a key contributor to San Diego’s nursing workforce, and this initiative will strengthen that pipeline at a critical time. With the support of the Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund, we will take an important step forward in improving outcomes for mothers, infants, and families across the communities of North County and across the state.”

Honoring innovation in women’s health

The Gayle Gillies-Mize Award, named after the Women’s Fund founder, is the organization’s highest honor. It is awarded annually to the grant recipient that receives the most votes from the Women’s Fund membership. During the 2024-25 grant cycle the Women’s Fund vetted 124 projects from local not-for-profit organizations, so the award speaks to the exceptional leadership, innovation, and impact of the program in advancing women’s health and well-being.

Current and past chairwomen of the Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund were on hand July 12 for USD’s annual alumni fundraising event at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice, Garden of the Sea, on USD’s campus. This annual event draws over 700 guests and all proceeds benefit the Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund, supporting scholarships for USD students.

USD Women’s Fund Chairman Mary Consalvi said in the news release, “The Women’s Fund is always on the look-out for projects that are bold new ventures, especially when they present a novel way to address a time worn problem. In this case, the Hahn School identified a critical gap in perinatal CNS education and developed and implemented a graduate level program to address it. The long-term benefits to the community will be substantial and we are happy to support it.”

Nicole Riel, assistant director of Annual Giving at USD Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, commented in the news release: “We are deeply honored by this recognition and inspired by the generosity of the Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund. Their investment in our Perinatal CNS program is not only a vote of confidence in our faculty and students, it’s a powerful step toward reversing maternal health disparities in San Diego County.

“Every gift helps us expand access, save lives, and train the next generation of nurse leaders. As the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science continues to lead in advanced nursing education and compassionate care, we are actively seeking additional funding to scale programs like this, and our many initiatives that have the power to uplift entire communities.”

The Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science at the University of San Diego plays a critical role in addressing the ongoing registered nursing and advanced practice nursing shortage in the region by graduating highly trained nurses at the graduate level who serve the local community. As an essential resource for healthcare in San Diego, the school continues to lead innovative efforts to meet pressing health needs, According to the news release.

For those interested in applying for a grant, detailed application guidelines and information about the grant process are available at www.rsfwomensfund.org/apply-for-a-grant/

The 2025–2026 RSF Women’s Fund Grant Cycle officially begins on Aug. 1, when the Letter of Intent form will become available on the RSF Women’s Fund website. The deadline to submit this form is Aug. 29. Residents interested in joining the Women’s Fund should also visit the website at www.rsfwomensfund.org.