DELAWARE INSTITUTE FOR HEALTHCARE EDUCATION ADVANCEMENT

The Delaware Institute for Healthcare Education Advancement (DIHEA) is 501 (c) (3) non-profit started by 2 colleagues while taking a break in a nursing lounge right before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. 

Bet Key Wong (co-founder of Nurses & Neighbors) and Steve Tooze (Steve) were checking on each other's goals for the new year.  That was before they knew a pandemic was coming.  Steve, a native Delawarean, wanted to provide scholarships for residents of Delaware.  Knowing that healthcare students needed money for expenses not usually covered by typical scholarships, Steve envisioned scholarships that would cover extra expenses such as gas money to clinical sites, fees for testing and background checks, clinical supplies, or uniforms.  Bet returned to Delaware after being away for decades and found a rapidly growing aging population in a place that lacked healthcare workers. She wanted to encourage more people to join the caring workforce.

Then the pandemic hit. Steve provided care for patients hospitalized with COVID and Bet joined the Delaware Medical Reserves Corps to help with COVID testing and vaccination.

Despite the pandemic, the two nurses continued to work (at least 6 feet apart) on their goal to start an organization to advance healthcare education in Delaware. In 2020, Steve and Bet formed the Delaware Institute for Healthcare Education Advancement Inc (DIHEA). In 2021, DIHEA was recognized by the IRS as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation. 

DIHEA's mission is to advance healthcare education in Delaware by providing scholarships to help fund non-tuition related education expenses (including money for self-care like a cup of coffee before clinical).

Abigail (Abi) Alvarez and Deborah Yutzy were elected to the DIHEA Board in 2021. Both Abi and Deborah are nurses with deep ties to Delaware communities. They bring to the DIHEA Board critical care and community care nursing experiences. By the end of 2021, First State Orthopaedics provided DIHEA support to launch the scholarships.

The first round of scholarships started in 2022. All DIHEA scholars were pursuing a degree or certificate in healthcare. Each winner received $100 to spend anyway they would like. Preference was given to Delawareans.   Of all the scholars, 70% were residents of Delaware with participation from all three Delaware counties. Their aspirations included nursing, dentistry, medicine, physical therapy, and physician assistant.    

In 2023, Barb Bradbury, MSN, CRNA, APRN joined the DIHEA board. Barb is a native Delawarean, an advanced practice nurse, a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), and a mentor/preceptor to many CRNA students. 

DIHEA received funding from the Delaware Association of Nurse Anesthetists to provide scholarships for the 2nd round of scholarships in 2023.  100% of scholarship recipients were from Delaware. 

DIHEA launched the 3rd round of scholarships in 2024 with support from First State Orthopaedics. Each scholar received $150 to spend it anyway they want.

In 2025, Kristin Brimmer, MSN, RN, CNOR and Forrest Culver, RN joined the DIHEA board. We increased our scholarship amount from $100 to $150 for 11 scholars to spend it anyway they want.  

As we enter the 2026 scholarship cycle, DIHEA remains focused on reducing barriers and empowering healthcare students who are shaping the future of care in Delaware. 

Thank you for your continuous support.

Contact us at scholarships@dihea.org.