Episode Description
Nurses use pharmacology, operate complex
medical technology, and apply statistical modeling daily
- yet they're locked out of $1.2 billion in federal STEM funding.
Rebecca Love is fighting to change that.
WHAT'S AT STAKE: A national coalition of 100+ nursing organizations just petitioned the Department of Homeland Security to recognize nursing as a STEM profession. This change could unlock:
WHY THIS MATTERS BEYOND NURSING: If you're building health tech, investing in healthcare, or care about
AI in medicine, this affects you. Nurses are the frontline innovators using
your technology, but they're systematically excluded from the funding and
recognition that drives STEM careers forward.
THE GENDER BIAS NOBODY'S TALKING ABOUT: Rebecca doesn't sugarcoat it: nursing is 90% female,
and she believes that's exactly why it's been overlooked. While male-dominated
fields get priority STEM status, nurses who use pharmacology, operate advanced
medical devices, and conduct statistical research are told they're not
"technical enough."
INSIDE THIS CONVERSATION:
🔬 The DHS Petition Explained
đź’° The $1.2 Billion Lockout
🤖 AI & Health Tech's Nursing Problem
đź“Š Business Skills Nurses Need NOW
🏥 Healthcare System Transformation
⚖️ The Gender Equity Angle
GUEST BIO: Rebecca Love, RN,MSN,FIEL, is co-chair of the Nursing is STEM Coalition (with Marion Leary from UPenn), First Nurse Featured on Ted.com, on Forbes Business Council, President Emeritus of SONSIEL, Chief Clinical Officer at Quadrivia AI, visiting professor at Florida State University, and founder of the Commission for Nurse Reimbursement. She's a former bedside nurse turned healthcare entrepreneur on a mission to get nurses the recognition, funding, and business skills they deserve.
TAKE ACTION:
đź”” Subscribe for more healthcare innovation insights
đź‘Ť Like if you think nursing deserves STEM recognition
đź’¬ Comment: Should nursing be classified as STEM? Why or why not?
📲 Share with anyone in healthcare, health tech, or policy
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Join the coalition: Nursing is STEM
RELATED VIDEOS YOU'LL LOVE: https://youtu.be/v83JzzsAWaA?si=5Bej_eIuRes09J-4
Connect with and follow Rebecca Love on LinkedIn.
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Year for 2026
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