Tennessee health officials have allied with tnAchieves to present an academic scholarship aimed at supporting the state's next wave of public health experts, with details revealed in a press release from the Tennessee Department of Health. These Public Health Academic Bridge Scholars Program scholarships are set at $5,000 each year, offering a boost to 20 students who have already earned an associate’s degree and are transferring to a four-year university to embark on a health-related bachelor's degree.
According to the same release, Tennessee Health Commissioner Ralph Alvarado, MD, FACP, sees this initiative as a pivotal step in enriching the healthcare landscape for the state's residents, especially building on TN Promise to encourage more students to complete a four-year university education, the program is also a springboard for academic excellence, easing participants into the world of public health at larger in-state universities.
The scholars chosen for this year are set to engage with the Tennessee Department of Health for a total of seven hours throughout the summer, these sessions, both online and in-person, aim to provide insights into the public health field's career diversity, tnAchieves President & CEO Krissy Dealejandro conveyed the significance of this new venture, as it paves the way for students to transition smoothly from community college to university; this is particularly important for those aiming for lucrative, high-demand healthcare positions strewn across Tennessee.
Previous collaborative efforts between the TN Department of Health and tnAchieves have involved job shadowing and mentoring. This round sees the partnership being reinforced with the scholarship fund, which is supported by a Public Health Infrastructure Grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as detailed in the press release. Accompanied by tnAchieves' established track record of providing student support that integrates community and accountability, the program envisions bolstering post-secondary prospects for Tennessee's aspiring public health workforce.
