Dr. Patricia Brown O’Hara ’80 Ireland Nursing Fellowship Scholarship

For more than 20 years, Dr. Patricia Brown O’Hara, RN, PhD, has shaped the next generation of nurses at GMercyU through mentorship, innovative clinical programs, and unwavering dedication to student success. From pioneering the Dedicated Education Unit—where senior nursing students gain hands-on experience alongside preceptors—to leading the University’s Nursing Study Abroad Program in Ireland, Dr. O’Hara has left an indelible mark on nursing education.

In 2018, Dr. O’Hara launched GMercyU’s nursing study abroad program in Ireland with just four students. Today, 79 students have participated, with many more planning to travel in Summer 2026. Students earn six academic credits, enjoy excursions, room and board, and connect with over 100 peers at the University of Limerick’s summer program. These experiences are transformative, shaping students’ professional skills, cultural awareness, and personal growth.

To make this life-changing opportunity more accessible, Dr. O’Hara, along with her family, and friends, established the Dr. Patricia-Brown-O’Hara ’80 Ireland Nursing Fellowship Scholarship. This scholarship helps defray the costs of study abroad, ensuring more nursing students can participate in this exceptional program.

“Study abroad programs can be defining moments in a person’s life and continue to impact them for years after the experience… As part of my legacy, my family and I created this scholarship to help students pursue this invaluable opportunity.” – Dr. Patricia Brown O’Hara

Your support of this scholarship empowers future nurses to experience the world, grow professionally, and return with skills and perspectives that benefit their communities and the nursing profession.

Give today and help continue Dr. O’Hara’s legacy of mentorship, education, and global impact.