Scholarships are available for students in the health care field.
Because of rising education costs, many aspiring health care professionals struggle to pay for school. Medical school students, for instance, graduate with an average debt of $157,944, according to the American Medical Association. Likewise, nursing students at private schools can spend about $80,000 to gain their degrees. These realities led to the establishment of scholarships which aim to help health care students afford their education and also improve the quality of health professionals across the country.
Medical Doctors
Students preparing to become medical doctors can take advantage of a variety of scholarship opportunities. One such scholarship is the Herbert W. Nickens Medical Scholarship, which gives $5,000 to minority recipients. It is administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges. To qualify, candidates must be American citizens in their third year of medical school.
Similarly, the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program also provides money for medical school. Provided by the U.S. Department of Health, the scholarship gives money for tuition, books and other related costs for four years. Recipients also get $1,289 as a monthly stipend for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Nurses
Nurses are an integral cornerstone of the American health care system and unfortunately, there are not enough nursing professionals to meet demand. Consequently, scholarships like the Karen O'Neil Memorial Scholarship from the Emergency Nurses Association Foundation were created to encourage more people to get a nursing degree. The scholarship gives one student $5,000 for education-related costs. Applicants must be ENA members with a 3.0 grade point average or more.
Students at the University of North Carolina's School of Nursing can apply for the Martha Bumgarner Nursing Scholarship. It gives money to those who plan to enter the fields of end-of-life or oncology nursing. Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA.
Anesthesiologists
Anesthesiologists are also an essential part of the health care system, and there are specific scholarships to help them pay for school. The Army Nurse Corps Association, for example, gives $3,000 to anesthesiology students who are attending an accredited school. To be eligible for the ANCA Scholarship, applicants must plan to enter the U.S. Army, the Army National Guard or the Army Reserve. The scholarship is also available to veterans of these military outfits and members of the Army Nurse Corps.
Radiologists
Like other health professionals, radiologists help to keep patients safe. And with an eye towards increasing the education and skills of future radiologists, the Radiological Society of North America provides the Research Medical Student Grant. It gives $3,000 for a 10-week research project. Recipients also get a $6,000 stipend.
Offered by the Society of Gastrointestinal Radiologists, the Howard S. Stern Research Grant program gives $15,000 to medical doctors to expand their knowledge and the field of radiology through research. The annual scholarship has been available since 2000, and it is open to SGR members.
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