By AFRO Staff
Towson University student Sharisa Simon recently won a scholarship from the United Health Foundation's Diverse Scholars Initiative. (Courtesy Photo)
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(August 20, 2009) - Sharisa Simon, a native of Mitchellville, Md., has won a scholarship from the United Health Foundation’s Diverse Scholars Initiative to pursue a career in health care. Simon is a senior at Towson University, where she is pursuing a degree in nursing, and plans to obtain a medical degree specializing in anesthesiology. She works as a drug and alcohol peer educator on campus and was inspired to enter the health field after completing a year-long research project on the adverse effects of heart medication while a student at Charles Herbert Flowers High School.
Simon is one of up to 200 students from diverse, multicultural backgrounds who will benefit from a United Health Foundation scholarship for the 2009-2010 academic year. The Foundation has committed $1.2 million to the initiative, a sharp increase in funding compared with previous years. The scholarships, averaging $5,000 per student, focus on African American, American Indian, Asian American and Latino American students.
To formally recognize scholarship recipients, the United Health Foundation convened 32 students from around the country in Washington, D.C., for a “Young Minds, Bright Futures” Diverse Scholars Forum.
“It is more important than ever that we encourage our country’s brightest young minds to pursue careers in the health professions, and expose them to the political and policy environment,” said Reed V. Tuckson, M.D., United Health Foundation board member and executive vice president and chief of medical affairs, UnitedHealth Group. “Expanding our Diverse Scholars Initiative to support more young people who are committed to advancing the health of our nation and of underrepresented minorities is especially important given the challenging economic times and a growing physician and nurse shortage.”
The goal of the Diverse Scholars Initiative, established in 2003, is to increase the number of qualified, yet underrepresented, college graduates entering the health workforce. By cultivating health professionals from diverse, multicultural backgrounds, the United Health Foundation hopes to increase culturally-competent health care delivery, close the health disparities gap and improve health outcomes over the long term.
The program is administered through partnerships with a variety of non-profit and civic organizations. While the United Health Foundation does not influence recipient selection, scholars must demonstrate financial need, the pursuit of a degree that will lead to a career in a health field, and a commitment to working in underserved communities, including community health centers. Additional requirements and application deadlines vary by organization.
The organizations are experienced in scholarship administration and have reputations for achieving excellence with these programs. They also have the ability to identify and engage with students who are most in need of financial support. The Diverse Scholars Initiative partner organizations include:
American Indian College Fund, Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund, Auxiliary to the National Medical Association, California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc., Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities, Hispanic College Fund, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Jackie Robinson Foundation, Magic Johnson Foundation, National Hispanic Health Foundation, National Medical Fellowships, Inc., South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Inc., Tavis Smiley Foundation, Thurgood Marshall College Fund, United Negro College Fund.
For more information about the Diverse Scholars Initiative, visit www.unitedhealthfoundation.org/dsi.html.