Nicole Rouhana is one of only six registered nurses in North America who has been awarded a scholarship for graduate studies in the field of maternal-child nursing from the March of Dimes. She is studying for a doctorate in rural health nursing at Binghamton University .

“Each year the pool of applicants becomes stronger, and it becomes more difficult for our National Nurse Advisory Committee to select the recipients. These outstanding nurses offer the highest quality of care to mothers and babies,” said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, President of the March of Dimes.“ The March of Dimes is proud to recognize their achievements and help them go on to make even greater contributions to their communities.”

For the second consecutive year, the March of Dimes awarded six scholarships instead of the traditional four because of a generous contribution from Proctor & Gamble Company.

Ms. Rouhana, of Vestal, NY, has been selected because of her extraordinary education and career background. In addition to her studies, she serves as Program Director at the Stonybrook University Midwifery and Perinatal Women's Health program. After 17 years in clinical practice and 12 years in midwifery education, she intends to continue to study rural health care.

Ms. Rouhana also expects to research and study its provision in innovative ways, thereby increasing care to rural women and children in an attempt to reduce infant mortality in this vulnerable population. Ms. Rouhana is interested in assisting with the American College of Nurse Midwives to expand its capacity in rural settings.

“We are honored to have one of the beneficiaries of this prestigious award studying right in our own backyard. Ms. Rouhana's studies and efforts will prove to benefit the many rural communities right here in New York,” said Edward J. Smith III, Volunteer Board Chairman of the March of Dimes Central New York Division.

The March of Dimes annual Graduate Nursing Scholarships were founded in 1997 to assist registered nurses enrolled in graduate programs in maternal-child nursing. Each recipient receives $5,000 to continue their education.

The other five scholarship winners for 2006 are:

•  Kate E. Becker , of Philadelphia , PA , a nurse who is studying at the University of Pennsylvania to become a nurse midwife.

•  Mary A. Dominick , of Mentor on the Lake, Ohio, a nurse for more than two decades who is studying to become a neonatal nurse practitioner at Case Western Reserve University Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing .

•  Dawn Kingston , of Ontario , Canada , a nurse who is pursuing her doctorate at McMaster University where she is studying precursors to preterm birth.

•  Gwen Latendresse, of West Jordan , Utah , a certified nurse midwife who is a doctoral candidate at the University of Utah School of Nursing.

•  Jody Lori, of Ann Arbor Michigan , a certified nurse midwife, who is pursuing a doctorate in nursing at the University of Arizona .

Qualified applicants for the March of Dimes nursing scholarships are registered nurses currently enrolled in a graduate program in maternal-child nursing at the master's or doctorate level. Applicants must be a member of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, or the National Association of Neonatal Nurses. Applications for the 2007 scholarships will be available this fall on the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com/scholarship , or by calling the March of Dimes at (914) 997-4609. Applications for 2007 scholarships are due January 15, 2007.

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies and in 2003 launched a campaign to reduce the rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish-language Web site at nacersano.org .