Mayo Invests in Future Health Professionals in Communities
Published at 4:13 pm on Monday, May 8, 2023
The Mayo Clinic Health System has been busy this week.
Susan Rock
The Mayo Clinic Health System awards scholarships to high school and non-traditional students in Freeborn and More Counties, according to Susan Locke, Foundation Director, Volunteer Services Coordinator, and Community Engagement Specialist for the Mayo Clinic Health System. increase. The only requirement for eligibility was that the student was planning to pursue a career in medicine.
Other determining factors in the selection process included how committed the student was and how involved they were in the school and community.
High school students received $1,000 and non-traditional students received $1,000 or $1,500.
According to Loch, nontraditional students are defined as those who return to school, and all of this year’s winners went on to Riverland Community College.
“Healthcare is changing a lot and it can be very difficult to find people who really want to work in rural clinics,” she said. If we can, we are A and help solve the problem of not having enough medical professionals and B might be interested in coming back.practice in their home area…so , seems like a win-win,” she said.
Heidi Gaston, Albert Lee and Heidi Gaston, consultant obstetrics and gynecology physician at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin.
One of these recipients was Albert Lee, who now lives in Grenville, and Heidi Gaston, a consultant obstetrics and gynecology physician at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin.
“I was one of those kids from an early age who wanted to be a doctor,” she said, noting that she was involved in extracurricular activities that allowed her to interact with and serve people. Did.
She also thought the drug was perfect for her.
As a senior at Grenville Emmons High School in 2003, she decided to apply for as many scholarships as possible, especially those related to her future plans.
“One of the big burdens for many people is the cost of higher education,” she said. “University scholarships often help with tuition, room and food costs, but they also help cover the additional costs of living alone for the first time in your life without actually having the opportunity to work full-time. can’t work.”
The scholarship opportunity also prompted her to consider returning to Grenville, and Albert Lea Medical Center (now the Mayo Clinic Health System) showed her belief that she could succeed in health care, she said. rice field. She has admitted that returning to her Grenville is her goal.
“As one of the locals, we know that this nationally renowned hospital system is within our reach,” she said. I think it was compared to
This year Loch received approximately 45 scholarship applications.
Within the region, four Albert Lee High School students received scholarships, three United South Central students received scholarships, and Alden Conger, NRHEG, and Grenville Emmons each received one scholarship. I was. In addition, an auxiliary volunteer at Naive Hospital awarded her two scholarships to an Aldenkonger student and another her NRHEG student to whom she awarded one scholarship. He was awarded two scholarships to non-traditional students in Riverland. All scholarships were valued at $1,000.
Applications were sent to school guidance counselors in January and expired in March.
“It’s a very intense process,” says Loch.
Loch says the scholarship has paid off for at least the last decade.
Except for non-traditional scholarships, only college-going seniors are eligible to apply.
“Medicine is a long journey and it doesn’t have to be a lonely journey,” said Gaston. “Ask for support, let people know your goals, and let them help you get where you want to be.
“This is one of the ways people in the community and medical facilities can support you and alert you to future opportunities.”