Scholarship winner LeTonna Bradford participates in Third Annual “Young Minds, Bright Futures” Forum in Washington, D.C.
LeTonna Bradford
LeTonna Bradford of Milwaukee recently won a scholarship from United Health Foundation’s Diverse Scholars Initiative to pursue a career in health care.
Ms. Bradford just completed her second year as a doctoral candidate at Rosalind Franklin University-Chicago Medical School, where she is pursuing a doctorate in medicine with an expected graduation of 2013.
“This scholarship has been a blessing to me,” said Bradford. “Now, I can focus my energy and concentrate more on becoming an excellent physician thanks to the United Health Foundation Scholars Program and National Medical Fellowships, Inc.”
In addition to her coursework, Ms. Bradford is vice president of the Chicago Medical School chapter of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA). Prior to her graduate studies, she earned both a Master of Physical Therapy degree and Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical science from Marquette University in Milwaukee.
United Health Foundation’s Diverse Scholars Initiative, through its partner organizations, is awarding a total of $1.2 million in scholarships for the upcoming academic year to more than 200 students from diverse, multicultural backgrounds. This is part of the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to build a more diverse health care workforce.
The scholarships, averaging $5,000 per student, focus on African American, American Indian, Asian American and Latino and Hispanic students who plan to pursue careers in health care. Ms. Bradford received her scholarship from United Health Foundation in partner with National Medical Fellowships, Inc., an organization that provides scholarships for underrepresented minorities in medicine, and strives to achieve equity of opportunity in medicine and equity of access to quality healthcare for all groups in American society by increasing the number of minority physicians and changing the face of medicine to better reflect and serve a diverse nation.
Since 2007, United Health Foundation has awarded nearly 800 scholarships benefiting students across the nation, committing more than $4 million to the initiative.
“Research shows that when patients are treated by health professionals who share their language, culture and ethnicity, they are more likely to accept and receive medical treatment. Through these scholarships we are encouraging diverse, multicultural students to continue their education and become health care professionals who will help expand and enhance health care services, particularly in underserved communities. These outstanding scholars truly represent the rich diversity of our country,” said Kate Rubin, president, United Health Foundation.
United Health Foundation hosted its third annual Diverse Scholars “Young Minds, Bright Futures,” Forum in Washington, D.C., June 21-23, to recognize and celebrate the awardees and inspire them to work toward strengthening the nation’s health care system. Ms. Bradford was selected by National Medical Fellowships, Inc. to attend. This year’s event provided an opportunity for the talented, young future health care professionals to meet and interact with members of Congress and experts and leaders from a variety of health care fields.
The forum also included an informational panel of health experts and a breakfast reception on Capitol Hill.
Panelists for “Innovations in Chronic Disease Care and Prevention” include Deneen Vojta, M.D., Senior Vice President, UnitedHealth Center for Health Reform & Modernization; Felipe Lobelo, M.D., Ph.D., Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Amina Farhadi, Reproductive Justice Fellow (LSRJ), Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum; and Mona Shah, Associate Director, Federal Relations, American Cancer Society.
For more information about the Diverse Scholars Initiative, visit www.unitedhealthfoundation.org/dsi.html