United Health Foundation to Provide $1.2 Million in Scholarships for 200 Students Who Will Pursue Careers in Health Care
Washington, D.C. (July 28, 2009) – The United Health
Foundation’s Diverse Scholars Initiative will award grants this year to
as many as 200 students from diverse, multicultural backgrounds
enabling them to pursue careers in health care. The Foundation has
committed $1.2 million to the initiative for the 2009-2010 academic
year, 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 is convening 32 students from around the country in
Washington, D.C., for a “Young Minds, Bright Futures” Diverse Scholars
Forum. The forum begins today with a reception on Capitol Hill.
Representatives from the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional
Hispanic Caucus, and the Asian Pacific Islander Caucus have been
invited to attend the reception.
On July 29, the students will have an opportunity to learn about
efforts to modernize our health care system during a
question-and-answer session with Washington policy experts. The
exposure to the policy process is essential in helping these scholars
advance the health of the nation and overcome disparities in health
outcomes.
“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.”
Diverse Scholars Initiative Seeks To Improve Quality of Culturally-Competent Health Care
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.
“We applaud the United Health Foundation for its commitment to helping
cultivate the next generation of minority health care leaders," said
Elena Rios, M.D., president and CEO, National Hispanic Medical
Association and the National Hispanic Health Foundation.
In addition, the United Health Foundation is increasing its commitment
to community colleges by providing funding for students to make the
transition from two-year to four-year colleges. The support comes at a
time when the Obama Administration – also seeing the value in these
institutions as training grounds for the country’s future work force –
has increased financial support for community colleges.
For more information about the Diverse Scholars Initiative, visit www.unitedhealthfoundation.org/dsi.html
About the United Health Foundation
Guided by a passion to help people live healthier lives, United Health
Foundation supports activities that expand access to quality health
care services for those in challenging circumstances and partners with
others to improve the well being of communities. The Foundation also
provides helpful information to support decisions that lead to better
health outcomes and healthier communities. Since established by
UnitedHealth Group [NYSE: UNH] in 1999 as a not for profit private
foundation, the Foundation has committed more than $160 million to
improve health and health care. For more information, visit www.unitedhealthfoundation.org.
