Empowering PVN Teammates: Scholarships for Excellence

In 2021, the Adair Foundation generously donated $40,000 to establish the Live and Thrive Your Way Fund at Presbyterian Village North (PVN). This fund honors Joni Watson, Forefront Living’s Director of Business Development and Joyce Thompson, PVN Admissions Coordinator, for the remarkable care they provided to Curtis Meadows during his time at PVN. The Live and Thrive Your Way Fund is dedicated to empowering teammates to live fulfilling lives beyond the constraints of the annual budget, specifically providing them with continuing education opportunities.

Two years later in 2023, the Adair Foundation contributed $25,000 to the Forefront Living Foundation (FLF), in honor of Curtis and Patricia Meadows. This donation established the Curtis and Patricia Meadows Health Career Scholarship Fund, supporting Allied Health Professionals at PVN in their pursuit of health education and professional development. The allocation of funds is overseen by a scholarship committee of key stakeholders from PVN and FLF.

PVN Therapy teammates, Tracy Bardfield and Taylor Slatten, are the first beneficiaries of the Live and Thrive Your Way Fund and Sehar Hashmi is the first beneficiary of the Curtis and Patricia Meadows Health Career Scholarship Fund. Read more about these deserving recipients below.

Tracy Bardfield, a licensed physical therapist assistant at PVN, aims to enhance her expertise in Complete Decongestive Lymphedema therapy through the Live and Thrive Your Way Fund. She hopes to master techniques including manual lymphatic drainage, compression therapy and skin care to provide enhanced care to residents with lymphedema.

“I appreciate the opportunity to further my education, enhance my clinical skills and ultimately make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals battling lymphedema.” – Tracey Bardfield

Taylor Slatten, a certified speech-language pathologist at PVN, holds a master’s degree in communication sciences and disorders from Southeastern Louisiana University. Utilizing the Live and Thrive Your Way Fund, Taylor plans to further her education in vital stimulation to better serve PVN dysphagia patients.

“This scholarship will allow me to continue my education in vital stimulation to better serve dysphagia patients at PVN and will further my academic and professional skill set as a speech pathologist.” – Taylor Slatten

Sehar Hashmi, PVN Administrative Rehab Technician, is currently a junior attending the University of North Texas, majoring in kinesiology with a minor in psychology. Following the completion of her bachelor’s degree, Sehar plans to enroll in graduate school to pursue a doctorate degree in occupational therapy. Sehar’s career path into therapy was inspired by her high school experience as an athletic trainer, igniting a passion for helping others reclaim a higher quality of life.

“Working at PVN as a rehabilitation technician has brought me so much joy and knowledge over the past year and I am so eager to see what else this experience has in store for me.” – Sehar Hashmi