CareSource provides $250,000 gift to establish the CareSource Rural Health Endowed Scholarship at Marian University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine
Almost 60% of Indiana’s 92 counties have a shortage of primary health care providers, according to HRSA.gov, and Hoosiers living in rural areas often lack adequate insurance, have difficulty finding doctors with openings for new patients, and drive long distances to access health care.
Marian University and CareSource Indiana announced a new scholarship and initiative specifically designed to address these and other rural health care challenges with a $250,000 gift from CareSource to establish the CareSource Rural Health Endowed Scholarship at Marian University. The first scholarship will be awarded in Fall of 2024.
The CareSource gift and scholarship will allow Marian University to continue improving rural health care throughout Indiana. The CareSource Rural Health Endowed Scholarship will be exclusively awarded to medical students pursuing careers in rural Indiana towns.
“CareSource's partnership with Marian University marks a pivotal step in addressing rural health care challenges in Indiana,” said Steve Smitherman president of CareSource Indiana. “As a nonprofit managed care entity, we are committed to improving access to health care for all Hoosiers and proud to invest in the future of rural medicine. We look forward to the positive impact this collaboration will have on communities across the state.”
Amanda Wright, DO., dean of the Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine shares, “This partnership is a testament to our shared commitment to addressing the critical health care needs in Indiana's rural communities. The generous $250,000 gift will not only provide financial support to deserving osteopathic medical students but also play a pivotal role in shaping the future of rural medicine. This scholarship will empower and inspire our students to become dedicated health care professionals, serving in areas where the need is greatest.”
"We at the Indiana Rural Health Association (IRHA) are excited to see this new partnership develop,” Cara Veale, DHS, FACHE, CEO of IRHA. “Collaboration that supports the enhancement of rural health care delivery is always a wonderful thing. Physicians eager to work in rural communities are critical to the health care infrastructure and we are so pleased to see the support from CareSource Indiana and Marian University.”