Additional Underrepresented Minority Scholarship for Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander medical students

This month we've made news about National Medical Fellowships Inc's decision to open its underrepresented minority scholarships to Pacific Islanders after hearing from the Pacfic Islander Access project. For the students and parents who were excited about those scholarships, we'd like to call your attention to another medical studies scholarship that's open to Pacific Islander students, offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee Community Trust, along with the Memphis Chapter of the National Association of Health Service Executives: link

Like National Medical Fellowships Inc, this scholarship is for underrepresented minorities, and it recognizes that Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders are underrepresented. 

Kawika   

Pacific Islander America: Pacific Islanders underrepresented among medical doctors in Hawaii

Last week we shared the great news that National Medical Fellowships Inc is opening up both of its underrepresented minority scholarships to Pacific Islanders, after hearing from the Pacific Islander Access project. Just days later, I found this article while surfing a news site based in my home state.

The data point in the article: in the State of Hawaii, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders make up roughly 25 percent of the state population, but comprise only 4 percent of the state's physicians. In other words, Pacific Islanders are represented in the state's physician profession at a rate over six time lower than their overall population rate.

This mirrors data we shared with National Medical Fellowships Inc regarding the national underrepresentation of Pacific Islanders in medical professions, especially physicians.

Mahalo again to National Medical Fellowships Inc for making the right choice!


Kawika