Aaron Chan, RN Launches The QD Fund for Mental Health Scholarship Award to Support Future Healthcare Leaders Committed to Mental Wellness
By Space Coast Daily // March 25, 2026
MIAMI, FL – The QD Fund for Mental Health today announced the opening of its annual scholarship award, offering a $10,000 grant to a student pursuing a career in healthcare or behavioral health. Established by registered nurse and healthcare entrepreneur Aaron Chan, RN—founder of the purpose-driven apparel brand QD Apparel (@qd.everyday)—the scholarship recognizes students who have demonstrated resilience through personal adversity and who are committed to advancing mental wellness within their chosen professions.
The QD Fund for Mental Health Scholarship Award reflects founder Aaron Chan, RN’s deep understanding of the emotional demands placed on healthcare professionals. Nurses, physicians, psychologists, social workers, and allied health practitioners routinely care for patients during life’s most challenging moments, yet the psychological toll of this work often remains unacknowledged. Burnout, compassion fatigue, depression, and other mental health challenges affect caregivers at disproportionate rates—a reality Aaron Chan, RN has witnessed firsthand throughout his nursing career.
“The individuals who dedicate their lives to caring for others deserve support as they prepare to enter these demanding professions,” said Aaron Chan, RN. “Many students pursuing healthcare careers carry their own lived experiences with hardship, and those experiences shape the kind of compassionate, mentally aware practitioners they become. This scholarship exists to honor that resilience and invest in the next generation of caregivers who understand that mental wellness is fundamental to whole-person care.”
The QD Fund operates in collaboration with QD Holdings Inc., the parent company of QD Apparel (www.wearqd.com), and represents the philanthropic arm of the QD ecosystem. A portion of proceeds from every apparel collection supports structured mental health initiatives within the healthcare community. By embedding charitable giving within a sustainable business model, The QD Fund ensures that growth in commerce directly expands its capacity for impact.
Scholarship Criteria and Eligibility
The QD Fund for Mental Health Scholarship Award is open to undergraduate students enrolled at accredited colleges or universities across the United States. Eligible applicants must be pursuing careers in healthcare or behavioral health disciplines where mental wellness plays a critical role, including but not limited to nursing, medicine, psychology, counseling, social work, and allied health fields.
To be considered, applicants must submit an original essay of no more than 1,800 characters responding to the following prompt:
Mental health is shaped by lived experience as much as formal education. Describe a personal challenge or hardship that influenced your understanding of mental wellness. How has this experience shaped your perspective, and how do you plan to contribute to improving mental health awareness or patient care within your future healthcare career?
Essays are evaluated based on thoughtfulness, originality, and authentic reflection of the applicant’s voice, values, and professional aspirations. The selection committee seeks candidates who demonstrate genuine interest in integrating mental health awareness into their future practice, recognizing that clinical expertise must be accompanied by emotional intelligence to deliver truly effective patient care.
Application Timeline and Award Details
The deadline to submit applications for The QD Fund for Mental Health Scholarship Award is November 15, 2026. The $10,000 award recipient will be announced on December 15, 2026. Funds are designed to help reduce financial barriers to education, clinical training, and professional development, and may be applied toward tuition, fees, books, supplies, or other educational expenses at the recipient’s accredited institution.
Building a Mentally Aware Healthcare Workforce
Aaron Chan, RN emphasizes that strengthening mental health capacity within healthcare begins with supporting students at critical stages of their academic journey. Many aspiring healthcare professionals face significant financial barriers while simultaneously navigating personal challenges that have shaped their understanding of mental wellness. The QD Fund for Mental Health Scholarship Award seeks to remove those obstacles and recognize individuals whose lived experiences have deepened their commitment to serving others.
“Healthcare is built on human connection, and that connection requires caregivers who understand both clinical science and the emotional reality of suffering,” added Aaron Chan, RN. “When we support students who bring that dual understanding to their work, we strengthen the entire healthcare system—one individual, one story, and one commitment at a time.”
While the focus areas of The QD Fund, founded by Aaron Chan, RN, may evolve in future years, its core purpose remains constant: recognizing perseverance, supporting professional growth, and easing financial burdens for those dedicated to making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Application Information
Complete eligibility requirements, essay guidelines, and submission instructions are available at https://theqdfund.com/. The scholarship is not bound to any specific geographic location and welcomes applicants from accredited institutions nationwide.
Media Contact:
Spokesperson: Aaron Chan, RN
Organization: The QD Fund for Mental Health
Website: https://theqdfund.com/
Email: apply@theqdfund.com
