From bedside to primary care: UC Nursing graduate student receives CVS Health scholarship
For Harman Sivia, a University of Cincinnati College of Nursing graduate student, pursuing her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) focus is about more than advancing her career, but about taking a more active role in preventive care and disease management. Her commitment to that goal recently earned her the $10,000 CVS Health Caring Hearts FNP Student Scholarship, providing meaningful financial support as she balances graduate school, two nursing jobs and family life.
For Sivia, the award is both a financial relief and an opportunity to spend more time with the people who motivate her most: her husband and their two children.
Sivia (center) and her coworkers in Michigan
Sivia earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in India in 2011 and later completed an MBA in health care services. After immigrating to Canada with her family in 2017, she continued building her career while earning nursing credentials in both Canada and the United States. Along the way, she has worked in specialties ranging from emergency and critical care to cardiac catheterization and dialysis.
Her interest in primary care grew out of those years in intensive and progressive care units where she often met patients only after they had become seriously ill.
“I feel like there is something that can be done ahead of time, so it does not reach that stage,” she says.
As an FNP, she hopes to work with patients on prevention, early intervention and disease management, and to help them overcome barriers such as cost and gaps in follow-up care.
A flexible program. A lighter load
Sivia with her husband and children
When Sivia began researching graduate programs, she was looking for a school with a strong reputation and a format that would let her keep working while meeting her responsibilities to her family. UC’s program — ranked No. 19 nationally in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs — offered that combination.
Although Sivia lives in Windsor, Ontario, and often spends six consecutive days working away from home in Michigan, the program's flexibility and support have allowed her to keep up with her coursework.
As she moves into the clinical portion of her degree, the scholarship will let her cut back on extra shifts, focus on her clinical experiences and spend more time with her children.
“When I found out I got the scholarship, I shouted with joy,” she says. “It’s going to take some pressure off of me. I will be able to pay better attention to my studies and have a better work-life balance.”
The scholarship also carries personal meaning. Sivia grew up in India, where her father, a Sikh preacher, worked hard to make sure his children had access to education and the chance to build their own futures. Now she hopes to set the same example for her own children, showing them that perseverance, education and a belief in what is possible can open doors for generations to come.
"I wanted my kids to see it is achievable to believe in dreams," she says.
As she works toward becoming a family nurse practitioner, Sivia is focused on the impact she hopes to make: helping patients access compassionate, evidence-based care and supporting healthier lives through prevention and early intervention.
Ready to take your nursing career further? Explore our graduate programs and find the path that can help you expand your expertise, advance your career and make a greater impact on patient care.
Feature image: Harman Sivia (second from left) at her Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduation in India. / Photo provided
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