Scholarship Information
A total of 52 bicultural students will be awarded individual scholarships by multiple business and community organizations, based on a partnership with the United Health Foundation Diverse Scholars Initiative, to pursue educational opportunities leading to careers in the health care industry.
The goal of the United Health Foundation is to increase the number of qualified, yet underrepresented, college graduates entering the health workforce. The Foundation believes that the development of health professionals from diverse, multicultural backgrounds will help improve the quality of culturally-competent health care, close the health disparities gap and improve health outcomes long term.
“The Office of Minority Health cites a nationwide shortage of bilingual and bicultural health care professionals and calls for improvements in recruiting and retaining minority students,” states Russell Bennett, vice president of Latino Health Solutions at UnitedHealthcare. “Studies show that patients respond better when care instructions are delivered in their own language and their cultural background is taken into account.” According to the National Association of Hispanic Nurses and LatPro.com, the increasing population of Hispanics in the United States and the shortage of Spanish-speaking students pursuing professions in health care, translates into Hispanics receiving services by healthcare professionals that do not speak their language.
The Diverse Scholars Initiative addresses this shortage by encouraging students to complete their careers in health care, including nursing, pre-med, biology, psychology, pharmacy and the allied health professions. These professions also include studies leading to certificates as a medical interpreter, health claims examiner, pharmacy technician, radiology technician and others.
Partner organizations utilize their own selection process, as long as the purpose of the Foundation’s scholars initiative is maintained. Selection criteria should include consideration of past academic achievement and future potential, evidence of financial need and evidence of intent to pursue a health career upon graduation. Scholarships organizations are responsible for selecting from the pool of qualified candidates and the Foundation does not influence the partner organization’s selection outcome.
To learn more about the selection process and criteria for each scholarship organization, you may contact them directly.