Generosity That Fuels and Funds Education
July 11, 2025
As an educator and medical center trustee, Thomas Eastwick has first-hand knowledge of the critical role of nurses. Now he is funding the inaugural nursing scholarships at Hackensack Meridian Palisades Medical Center.
“I think the scholarships are going to make an impact. It’s important to keep the nursing pipeline primed,” said Tom, president and founder of Eastwick College, a proprietary school with locations in northern New Jersey, and leader of Eastwick Education, which boasts more than 50,000 graduate success stories over its four decades in business.
A longtime donor, Tom has served on Palisades’ governing and foundation boards and currently sits on the advisory panel for the medical centers in Hackensack Meridian Health’s northern region. He has committed to the scholarship program at Palisades for five years, with the expectation that there are five recipients annually.
While Tom’s school offers nursing – including some of the state’s first bilingual programs - the scholarships can be used at any accredited school. The first two were awarded recently during a ceremony at Palisades Medical Center. Recipients Amani Shihadeh, a nurse in the medical center’s award-winning maternity department, and Lesly Torres, a nurse on the busy third floor that supports the ICU and Observation units, each received $1,000 towards master’s programs they are pursuing.
“Through Tom Eastwick’s generosity, we can provide the opportunity to further education for our team members,” said Maria Brilhante, vice president and chief nursing officer at Palisades. “As health care evolves, we must stay abreast of current trends. This is a win-win for our team members and our patients.”
Tom said Palisades’ affiliation with Hackensack Meridian Health has allowed the medical center on the Hudson River waterfront in North Bergen to thrive. Nurses, of course, are the backbone of the institution and are in high demand. “Nursing is a very competitive field and HMH is a great place to work,” he said.
“I am incredibly grateful for this scholarship, as it allows me to pursue my master’s in nursing at William Paterson University, where I am currently in my second year. With this scholarship, I can devote more time and energy to my education, alleviating the financial burdens that often accompany it. This assistance means a great deal to me, and it truly helps me achieve my academic goals,” said Amani.
We are grateful to Tom for supporting our nurses, one of the core pillars of Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation’s Be The Difference campaign - a transformative effort to revolutionize health care. To learn how you can support nurses at Palisades Medical Center, or for more information about how you can be the difference for the medical center, please email Nicholas Mederos, director of Palisades Medical Center Foundation, at nicholas.mederos@hmhn.org.
