Ohio University and Kettering Health partner to surprise medical students with scholarships

Ohio University and Kettering Health surprised 39 incoming first-year medical students at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine’s annual Convocation and White Coat Ceremony with full tuition scholarships. The scholarships are part of an initiative between the university and the health system to support students with strong regional ties to become the new physician workforce in southwest Ohio. 

According to an article on Ohio University’s website, Kettering Health Chief Medical Officer R. Shaen Harvey, M.D., was quoted as saying during the surprise scholarship announcement, "Together, Kettering and HCOM are committed to investing in the next generation of physicians — students who have strong ties to the communities they aspire to serve. This scholarship is designed to strengthen the physician workforce in southwest Ohio by supporting students who have demonstrated a commitment to the region. We hope that the scholarship helps shape your medical school journey, perhaps lifts a little bit of that financial stress that helps you focus on the academics, serving each other and your patients, and we look forward to watching you grow into the compassionate physicians and leaders that we know you will be.”

Students were gathered at the annual Convocation and White Coat Ceremony expecting only a traditional get-together, but were surprised instead with the announcement that the 39 incoming students would have their first year of medical school fully funded through a scholarship from Kettering Health. The total amount of the scholarships being provided is nearly $2 million, giving the included students major relief as they enter into their first year completely free of charge.

In addition to the 39 first-year students who received the scholarships, nine second-year students received scholarship renewal offers. Scholarship recipients must remain in good academic standing and those who receive second-year renewal offers must commit to completing their clinical training during their third and fourth years of medical school within the Kettering Health system.

Ken Johnson, D.O., who serves as Ohio University's vice president for Health Affairs and senior strategist for health partnerships, said, "Our partnership with Kettering goes back to our founding 50 years ago and that has accelerated dramatically over the last three years. By investing directly in students, we are removing financial barriers and enabling future osteopathic physicians to follow their calling of providing compassionate care where care is needed most.”

The students who were surprised with their first-year scholarship offers were excited and grateful for the financial assistance, as entering medical school is a big financial commitment.

Incoming first-year student Jeremy Huiet revealed that he and some of the other students thought some kind of announcement was coming at the ceremony, but he was still surprised at the scale of it.

He said, "I was kind of wondering what they were being so cryptic about. You never expect that you're essentially going to get a  scholarship just by sitting in a room. It’s amazing. All the good adjectives come to mind…It just lifts such a burden off of the already expensive price tag associated with medical school."One of my first reactions was, 'Oh my God, I have to call my financial advisor.' We've got to figure out our plans now that we've had a really good change. I’m so thankful to Kettering as well as their commitment to the southwest Ohio area, where I’m from. I already had thoughts in my mind that I’d considered them heavily for a residency position. Their stock in my mind has just gone up a lot. I’m just super grateful to them and the entire university for their commitment, not only to each other as organizations but to us as students. It means a lot.”

His mother, Kristine Huiet, added, "When we calculated out what the debt [for medical school] was going to be, it's very scary. To know now that a nice chunk of that is gone, it's incredible. It very much relieves the burden and the pressure."

Jennifer Gwilym, D.O. (’03), interim senior dean of the Heritage College, said, "By providing students with every possible support, including monetary support, we aim to give them freedom to focus on what matters the most — learning, serving others and becoming the exceptional physicians our and your communities need.”

Kettering Health and Ohio University have a long-standing partnership that is expanding through this new scholarship initiative. The two institutions also recently announced a strategic partnership that focuses on expanding clinical education opportunities and bolstering the region’s medical workforce.

For more information about Ohio University, visit the school’s website.