By: Gary Pettus, UMMC
Photos By: Melanie Thortis/UMMC Photography
The School of Medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center has awarded one-year cost-of-attendance scholarships to a group of medical students who plan to practice primary care in a rural and underserved Mississippi community.
The scholarships were presented last week as part of the two-day Rural Medicine Education Symposium, a forum for physicians, administrators, educators and trainees to examine issues affecting the care of patients in rural communities and to discuss best practices for the various medical educational programs statewide.
Each scholarship is worth up to $83,000 and will be applied to the 2025-2026 academic year.
The awards were made available through the Improved Primary Care for the Rural Community through Medical Education (IMPACT the RACE) Rural Track Program, created to improve access to health care in underserved areas by enhancing rural medical education for students.
“The students receiving scholarships this year have demonstrated a commitment and genuine interest in rural medicine as well as primary care,” said Dr. Loretta Jackson-Williams, vice dean for medical education at UMMC.
“We hope that the support of this scholarship encourages them to come back as practicing physicians so we can witness their impact on our rural communities.
“It’s exciting that we’re beginning to see graduates of our program who are previous scholarship recipients return to the state to practice in these areas.”
The award does not require a rural service commitment, but students who expressed an interest in rural primary care were given preference during the selection process.
The medical students who are winners of one year cost-of-attendance scholarships display their certificates during Friday night’s Rural Medicine Education Symposium. Names are listed in the accompanying article.
Each awardee is either a second- or third-year medical student, is in good academic standing and was recommended by a physician preceptor.
The 19 most recent scholarship winners are: Shakyra Beasley of Clarksdale; Sarah Grace Brownlee of Flora; Natasha Burrell of Jackson; Madison Burton of Horn Lake; Cameron Cloud of Hattiesburg; Meredith Cooper of New Albany; Michael Aaron Goldman of Amory; Brooklyn Howe of Carriere; Alea Jones of Byram; Madison Klim of Houston, Texas; Taylor Lampkin of Terry; Caleb McCreary of Brookhaven; Jerrian Reedy of Hattiesburg; Thomas Easton Sheffield of Raymond and Flowood; Sara Lynn Sligh of Smithville; Lauren Sumrall of Hattiesburg; Ashton Swader of Belmont; Ann Truong of Tupelo; and Claire Wilbanks of Oxford.
Also recognized were Emilio Luna-Suarez of Philadelphia and Jaharah Muhammad of Fayette, both of whom were awarded cost-of-attendance scholarships in May 2024 and were invited to be part of the scholarship presentation ceremony.
“Receiving this scholarship has been an incredible blessing,” said Natasha Burrell of Jackson, a second-year medical student.
“It alleviates much of the financial strain that comes with medical school, while also reaffirming that there is so much support for students like me who are committed to pursuing a career in primary care and serving underserved communities.
“It also feels good to know that others can see and recognize my genuine passion for this.”