Veterans Memorial Hospital staff members receive IHERF Scholarship; Program awards 62 health care careers scholarships
IHERF scholarships awarded to VMH staff members ... Three Veterans Memorial Hospital staff members studying nursing have each been awarded a $3,500 scholarship from the Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation (IHERF), which is supported by the Iowa Hospital Association (IHA). These three staff members, who are also current students, include Morgan Van Ruler, C.N.A., a nursing student at Viterbo University (pictured in photo above at left); and Jayne McCormick, who is already an RN and is now achieving her bachelor’s degree from Mt. Mercy University (pictured in center photo at right); and Tyler O’Neill, E.M.T., a nursing student at the University of Iowa, pictured in lower photo. Presenting these scholarships is Mike Myers, C.E.O, just prior to his retirement from Veterans Memorial Hospital. Submitted photos.
Three Veterans Memorial Hospital staff members studying nursing have each been awarded a $3,500 scholarship from the Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation (IHERF), which is supported by the Iowa Hospital Association (IHA). These three staff members, who are also current students, include Morgan Van Ruler, a nursing student at Viterbo University; Tyler O’Neill, a nursing student at the University of Iowa; and Jayne McCormick, who is already an RN and is now achieving her bachelor’s degree from Mt. Mercy University.
These three staff members are among 62 outstanding students from all over Iowa who have received assistance this year from the IHERF Health Care Careers Scholarship Program.
IHA established the IHERF Health Care Careers Scholarship Program in 2004 to help address the ongoing shortage of health care professionals and encourage young Iowans to establish or continue their careers with Iowa hospitals. The first scholarships were awarded in 2005 and now over 560 students have benefited from the program.
In exchange for that financial support, scholarship-receiving students agree to work one year in an Iowa hospital for each year they receive an award. In this way, the scholarship program helps stabilize and enhance Iowa’s hospital workforce. Today, more than 327 scholarship recipients are working in Iowa hospitals.
Due to these unprecedented times with COVID-19, IHA staff evaluated scholarship applications from 180 students who were judged on grade-point average, a written personal statement, letters of reference and extracurricular, community and health care-related activities
“Because of the generosity of Iowa hospital leaders and other supporters of this program, we have presented more than $1.8 million in scholarships,” said IHA President and CEO Kirk Norris. “We are proud to help these high-achieving students fulfill their career goals at Iowa hospitals.”
IHERF is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Iowa Hospital Association. IHERF is a charitable nonprofit and exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.
