Future physician assistants (P.A.s) with dreams to return to rural areas to serve led to a record number of scholarships earned at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis. In late 2021, 11 students earned National Health Service Corps (NHSC) scholarships in return for a commitment to provide primary health services in a Health Professional Shortage Area.
“So many people have to travel 30 minutes up to two hours to see a provider. I want to work in those areas. I want to cross that bridge and help those people,” explains P.A. student and scholarship recipient Mike Needham.
“Now, I really have the opportunity to live out my dreams and really help the people I wanted to help from the beginning,” adds fellow student and recipient Renee Wadsworth.
The scholarship pays for tuition and other education-related expenses and also provides a monthly stipend to assist with living expenses.
The 2021 recipients include from left to right:
- Michael Needham
- Kristine Babayan
- T. Renee Wadsworth
- Thuy Dung Nguyen
- Aliyah Bell
- Hieu Nguyen
- Leticia Garcia Reyes
- Emmanuelle Ganzon
- Mario Navarro
- Putue Teh
- Jesse Duro
While recipients cannot choose where they will ultimately serve, they are guaranteed that their goal to care for the underserved will be achieved.
