November 21, 2002
Genesis Foundation Matches Scholarship Funds
Additional Scholarships Now Available for Quad City Students Seeking Health Care Degrees
Davenport, IA - Genesis Health Services Foundation has added five scholarships to the Genesis Health Group Scholarship Program. Now ten students seeking health care degrees, are eligible to receive scholarships toward tuition, books and fees at accredited institutions in Iowa and Illinois.
The scholarship program unveiled earlier this month by Genesis Health Group (GHG), an integrated group of Quad City-area physicians, has received an overwhelming response. The Foundation administers this program and saw this as an opportunity to investment in the future of health care in our community. "We recognize the growing need for health care professionals and want to do our part in keeping our hospitals and physician offices staffed with the best and brightest," said Missy Gowey, Executive Director of the Genesis Health Services Foundation. "We're proud to collaborate with Genesis Health Group and believe the entire community will benefit from the financial investment we're making in the GHG Scholarship Program."
The scholarship program has two categories. The first is for college undergraduates, from the Quad City area, who are planning to attend an accredited medical school in Iowa or Illinois. These students are eligible for four $1,500 scholarships. "The financial burden of rising tuition costs can discourage young people from pursuing their medical degree," said William M. Langley, M.D., Medical Executive Director for Genesis Health Group. "This program may help ease some of the financial burden for undergraduates in pre-med or biology-based preparatory programs."
The six remaining scholarships, worth $1,000 each, will be awarded to local high school seniors who are also planning to enter health care professions. Some of the eligible college programs include professions that would normally be seen in a physician clinic, including but not limited to medical assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, radiology technicians, medical technicians and dietitians. Graduating seniors in Gensis Health System's (GHS) 10 county service area may apply for this scholarship. It covers tuition and education expenses at an accredited technical, two-year or four-year college or university in Iowa or Illinois.
The scholarship program was developed in the face of information recently released by the Bureau of Health Professions. The report shows health care jobs must grow to more than 14 million in the next eight years in order to meet increased demand. In 2000, there were 10.9 million health care workers in the United States, but the profession is forecasted to be one of the fastest growing in the country.
"There are simply not enough graduates to fill many of the health care vacancies," added Langley. "My colleagues and I hope this scholarship program will help encourage students to pursue medical careers and continue our efforts of providing compassionate and quality health care to all those in need in our community."
GHS, through its affiliates and divisions, is implementing several long-term and short-term tactics to help alleviate the impact the nationwide health care worker shortage is having on the Quad Cities. They include: the Genesis Health Services Foundation Gala Nursing Scholarship, the mentoring program for Scott County high school students; the financial support for the initiation of St. Ambrose University's nursing program, the development of a career ladder program and increased involvement of nurses' participation in decision-making.
Questions and application requests for the Genesis Health Group Scholarship or the Genesis Foundation Gala Nursing Scholarship can be directed to the Genesis Health Services Foundation office at (563) 421-6865. Scholarship information and forms can also be downloaded from the Genesis Health System website at www.genesishealth.com. Application deadline for the Health Group Scholarship is March 1, 2003, and scholarships will be awarded in April 2003.
