Local Physicians Give Back to the Community

[Archived from March 20, 2009]

For the past 18 years, physicians associated with Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare have been giving back to their community in the form of college scholarships.

This year the JHSMH medical staff will award 10 scholarships of $3,000 each totaling $30,000. Applicants will be asked to submit an essay and to provide information about their academic achievements, family demographics, community service, and teacher recommendations.

The scholarship program began in 1991 as a St. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital medical staff initiative, in which member dues went towards creating one-time scholarships to area high school seniors. In 1992, they awarded the first scholarship and several years later substantially increased their dues to fund more scholarships. To date, the medical staff has awarded $153,000 in scholarships.

“We wanted to do something to give back to the community that we serve and it is our way of saying thank you to them,” said Dr. Robert Jacob, orthopaedist with Jefferson Medical Associates, a part of The Physician Group at Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare.

With the 2005 merger of Jewish Hospital HealthCare Services and CARITAS Health Services, both medical staffs came together to offer up dues towards scholarships, and expanded their reach to all students in Jefferson County and parts of Bullitt and Oldham Counties, which are in the primary service area of the affiliated physicians.

Dr. Jacob reported on a survey sent to scholarship recipients a couple of years ago, saying several of them stated the scholarship was a critical part of their ability to attend college. “Our entire medical staff is excited to help give our young people this start,” said Dr. Jacob.

To request an application packet, students or teachers may contact the Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare Medical Staff Office located at 1850 Bluegrass Ave, by calling 361-6652. Completed applications and essays should be returned to the office by April 22, 2009.

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