In 2023, HASC and Communities Lifting Communities (CLC) launched the Diversity in Health Care Scholarship Program to help grow a more inclusive health care workforce. This year, the two organizations are excited to continue partnering to break down financial barriers for students, especially from underrepresented backgrounds, pursuing health care careers. The initiative will also benefit HASC members by assisting employees in gaining the professional skills and knowledge needed to fill critical hospital vacancies.
The 2024 scholarship application period will run from April 1 through May 31. Employees who have worked for a HASC member hospital at least one year, and are enrolled in a health care program, are invited to apply. Applicants from communities historically underrepresented in health care will receive special consideration. Learn more and apply at clcscholarships.hasc.org.
Last year, eight students received the first Diversity in Health Care Scholarships. Awardees were selected based on their employment at a HASC member hospital, academic achievement and community involvement. Of the eight awardees, four received graduate scholarships for $3,000 and four received undergraduate scholarships for $2,500.
2023 Scholarship Recipient Highlight
Santiago Chambers, director of plant operations at Los Alamitos Medical Center, is completing his master’s degree in health care administration at the University of Arizona Global Campus. He received a $3,000 Diversity in Health Care graduate scholarship.
“As a lifelong learner, I’ve dedicated my life to helping the community and serving those people that are most vulnerable,” he says. “This scholarship is going to help propel me towards my dream and my goal of being a health care executive.”
CLC and HASC are grateful to LA Care Health Plan, Inland Empire Health Plan, CalOptima, Gold Coast Health and CenCal Health for their generous donations. Thanks to this support, the 2024 program will offer scholarships to approximately 12 to 15 students.
For more information on the scholarship program, please contact Soyinka Allen at [email protected] or (213) 538-0722. If you’d like to support the program by making a donation, please visit https://communities.hasc.org/donate.