Program Awards 52 Health Care Careers Scholarships
DES MOINES – Sarah Fuhs, an employee of Monroe County Hospital & Clinics who is studying for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Grand View University, has been awarded a $3,500 scholarship from the Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation (IHERF), which is supported by the Iowa Hospital Association (IHA). She is among 52 outstanding students from all over Iowa who have received assistance this year from the IHERF Health Care Careers Scholarship Program.
“Sarah Fuhs, CNA at Monroe County Hospital and Clinics, once again received an IHERF scholarship. It is a win-win for everyone because the scholarship helps Sarah continue with her education and she will continue to provide outstanding care to patients once she graduates from Grandview with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. It has been gratifying to watch Sarah mature both as a healthcare professional and as a young lady over the past three years. This year, she travelled to Africa and observed as well as participated in a healthcare project there. She is a kind, well-rounded person, and I know she is going to do great things for the nursing profession.” stated by Gale Herrera, Chief Nursing Officer, Monroe County Hospital & Clinics.
IHA established the IHERF Health Care Careers Scholarship Program in 2004 to help address the ongoing shortage of health care professionals and encourage young Iowans to establish or continue their careers with Iowa hospitals. The first scholarships were awarded in 2005 and now more than 450 students have benefited from the program.
In exchange for that financial support, scholarship-receiving students agree to work one year in an Iowa hospital for each year they receive an award. In this way, the scholarship program helps stabilize and enhance Iowa’s hospital workforce. Today, more than 280 scholarship recipients are working in Iowa hospitals.
Hospital leaders from all parts of the state evaluated scholarship applications from dozens of qualified students who were judged on grade-point average, a written personal statement, letters of reference, and extracurricular, community and health care-related activities.
“Because of the generosity of Iowa hospital leaders and other supporters of this program, we have presented more than $1.5 million in scholarships,” said IHA President and CEO Kirk Norris. “We are proud to help these high-achieving students fulfill their career goals at Iowa hospitals.”
IHERF is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Iowa Hospital Association. IHERF is a charitable nonprofit and exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.
Contact: Emily Liske
515-283-9364
liskee@ihaonline.org