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African American students pursuing health care careers win $40,000 in scholarships from United Health and PacifiCare Foundations
Twenty African American students pursuing health care careers were each awarded a $2,000 scholarship by the United Health Foundation and PacifiCare Foundation to pursue educational opportunities leading to careers in the health care industry.
The scholarships are offered on behalf of the African American Scholars Program. In order to qualify for a scholarship, applicants were required to demonstrate a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or "B" average and reside and/or attend schools in California, Georgia, Maryland and Texas for the 2006-2007 school year.
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, African Americans comprise 13 percent of the U.S. population but only about 6 percent of all matriculating students in medical schools in the country.
The fact that African Americans are under-represented in academic programs leading to careers in the health industry may ultimately affect the quality and delivery of health care in the African American community, according to Reed Tuckson, M.D., senior vice president of Consumer Health and Medical Care Advancement at UnitedHealth Group.
"Instead of simply talking about the statistics affecting our young people, we are doing something about this issue by creating new ways to support our future doctors, researchers and clinicians," said Dr. Tuckson, who is also a former president of a minority academic health university.
"We have to work hard today to improve health within the African-American community for tomorrow, and what better way of doing that than encouraging our young people to reach their career goals and fulfill their dreams."
According to Corliss Hill, director of development for United-Healthcare's Generations of Wellness, the high caliber of students who applied for scholarships inspired Ovations, the division of UnitedHealth Group that provides health and well-being services to Americans age 50 and older, to contribute an additional $15,000 to the scholars program fund.
The added support enabled the United Health Foundation and PacifiCare Foundation to award honorariums in the amount of $250 each to 60 additional deserving students who applied for the scholarships.
In addition, Generations of Wellness contributed an additional $20,000 to the Tom Joyner Foundation (www.tomjoyner.com) and the Tavis Smiley Foundation (www.youthtoleaders.org) to help fund their respective scholarship programs.
"In our first year offering scholarships, we have seen so much enthusiasm for African American Scholars--not only among applicants but also in the African American community and UnitedHealthcare's employees as well," said Hill. "We believe the academic excellence and passion for helping others exemplified by our applicants will make a tremendous impact in serving the health care needs of African Americans. We feel gratified that we are making a positive difference in the lives of these deserving youths who are beginning their journey toward realizing their academic and professional aspirations."
