Edison Student Awarded Scholarship For Organ & Tissue Donation Advocacy

EDISON, NJ — An Edison resident and student at Temple University has been awarded a Health Sciences Scholarship from the Sharing Network Foundation, which supports work to recover and place donated organs and tissue for NJ residents awaiting transplantation.

Anika Bhatnagar, a student in Temple’s Pre-Med Health Scholar Program (BS/MD), has a passion for health care and organ donation that’s deeply personal, officials said.

Her mother, Sarika, donated a kidney to save the life of her father, Vinay, which inspired Bhatnagar’s commitment to helping others through medicine and transplantation.

“Growing up, I witnessed my father’s challenging battle with renal failure, and through it, I saw the tireless dedication of the medical staff who helped him recover,” Bhatnagar said.

“His lifesaving transplant opened my eyes to the transformative power of organ donation and medicine,” she continued. “Watching my mother give the gift of life to my father inspired me to dedicate my life to healthcare and to advocating for others who can benefit from transplantation.”

Moved by her family’s experience, Bhatnagar began volunteering with the NJ Sharing Network in 2021 to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation, and has helped organize educational events, lead fundraisers, and host livestreams to share stories of lives transformed through transplantation.

Today, she continues to excel academically while gaining hands-on experience through research and clinical internships, and serves as the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of FallVision, LLC, a startup developing wearable technology for senior safety.

In the future, Bhatnagar aspires to become an internal medicine physician specializing in nephrology.

“My goal is to bridge the gap between research, healthcare, and patient care — to help others overcome the same challenges my father once faced,” Bhatnagar said. “This scholarship strengthens my resolve to honor the gift of life that organ and tissue donors make possible.”

Funded by NJ Sharing Network’s Employee Giving Campaign, the Health Sciences Scholarship Program demonstrates the commitment of NJ Sharing Network team members to foster the next generation of healthcare professionals who will play a critical role in saving and enhancing lives, officials said.

The Sharing Network Foundation’s Health Sciences Scholarship Program is open to New Jersey residents currently enrolled in a U.S. college or university, majoring in fields such as nursing, social work, medical technology, or biology.

Applicants are required to demonstrate a connection to organ and tissue donation and transplantation through personal experience, advocacy efforts, or professional aspirations.

This year’s scholarship winners were:

• Anika Bhatnagar (Edison, NJ | Temple University, Major: Biology)
• Emma Corradino (Piscataway, NJ | Moravian University, Major: Nursing)
• Soleil Duvivier (Piscataway, NJ | Chamberlain University, Major: Nursing)
• Alexander Rausch (Tinton Falls, NJ | Case Western Reserve University, Major: Biochemistry)
• Angelyna Scheck (Newton, NJ | Eastwick College, Major: Mortuary Science)
• Emma Szabo (Montvale, NJ | Penn State University, Major: Biobehavioral Health)

For more information about the Sharing Network Foundation’s scholarships and other programs, you can click here.