A while back, a post on this blog talked about the newest recipients of the scholarships that IHA provides each year through the Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation (IHERF).  

At that time, we wanted to share the excitement – both IHA’s and the recipients’ – that comes with handing out large sums of money.  But it was more than simply being “springtime Santas”; it was changing lives in a very real and personal way. 

More than a few of these scholarship recipients have made it clear that the help they received from IHA, which comes by way of contributions from hospitals and sponsors (more about that later), will allow them to remain on track and on time to finish their degrees.  Otherwise, they might have to work more, study less and maybe even drop out of school, at least temporarily. 

Since that post in May, we’ve had the chance to look more closely at the 31 men and women who received the IHERF Health Careers Scholarship for 2010.  Here are some observations: 

• These are outstanding students.  The numbers are all there – class-leading GPAs and ACT scores – along with long lists of school and community involvement. 
• These are students who are much more than students.  Besides supporting various community organizations with their time and talent, several are also supporting children and working part time (at least) to do more than pay for books and gas. 
• These are leaders.  Many are seeking advanced degrees to advance their careers, but also to put themselves in positions where they can mentor, teach and influence the next generation of health care professionals.  They are energized by the national focus on health care and the role they can play to make the system work. 
• These are Iowans who care.  Yes, as a condition of receiving the scholarship, all of the students must agree to work at an Iowa hospital for one year.  But it’s clear that these students have a strong desire to serve Iowans – in many cases, in the very towns and hospitals where they were born.  As scholarship recipient Kelly Lillie, an aspiring nurse practitioner from Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt put it, “I am ready and willing to step up to the plate, to take on the role as a midlevel provider and be part of the solution for health care in rural Iowa, my home.” 

As our scholars commit themselves to Iowa hospitals and the communities they serve, it completes the circle that also starts with Iowa hospitals, whose donations, along with funds from generous businesses, have made the Health Care Careers Scholarship Fund possible.  Many of these donations come from hospital leaders and the sponsors who participate in IHA’s annual Swinging for Scholars golf fundraiser. 

It adds up to more than a half-million dollars in scholarship support since the fund started in 2004.  But the real bottom line is found in town and cities all over Iowa, where these high-performing, scholarship-earning men and women will ensure access to high-value health care.