KU News Release

Oct. 5, 2007
Contact: Jill Jess, University Relations, (785) 864-8858.

KU School of Medicine selects 12 Scholars in Rural Health

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The University of Kansas School of Medicine has chosen 12 undergraduates for its Scholars in Rural Health program, which encourages young Kansans to practice medicine in rural parts of their home state after earning their degrees.

“This is a wonderful program for our state and for the young students seeking a career in medicine,” said Barbara Atkinson, executive vice chancellor of KU Medical Center and executive dean of the School of Medicine. “We know how critical it is for rural Kansas communities to preserve access to health care. This program and the medical student loan program are cornerstones of our ongoing efforts to focus resources for rural health care.”

Students who satisfactorily complete program requirements will be automatically admitted to the KU School of Medicine, said K. James Kallail, program director and professor at the School of Medicine-Wichita. Kallail met recently with the new scholars at an orientation session at the School of Medicine’s campus in Kansas City, Kan.

Undergraduates eligible for the program are Kansas residents with significant time living in a rural community, a minimum of sophomore status and two years of undergraduate education remaining. They will be given priority for available student loans through the Kansas Medical Student Loan Program as determined by annual allocations from the Kansas Legislature.

For more information about the program, including the scheduled Nov. 9 open house, application procedures and the selection process, go to the Scholars in Rural Health Web site.

Students chosen as Scholars in Rural Health are listed below by hometown, high school attended, college or university attended and rural health region in Kansas.

ANDERSON COUNTY
From Kincaid 66039
Chad Stewart, Crest High School, Colony; Pittsburg State University; Southeast Kansas.

COFFEY COUNTY
From Waverly 66871
Erin Hevel, Waverly High School; Washburn University, Topeka; Southeast Kansas.

FINNEY COUNTY
From Garden City 67846
Vanessa Reyes, Garden City High School; Kansas State University; Southwest Kansas.

GRANT COUNTY
From Ulysses 67880
Abby Trejo, Ulysses High School; Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas; Southwest Kansas.

HARPER COUNTY
From Attica 67009
Heidi Waldschmidt, Derby High School; University of Kansas; South-central Kansas.

LOGAN COUNTY
From Winona 66764
Kysha Nichols, Triplains High School; Sterling College; Northwest Kansas.

MARSHALL COUNTY
From Frankfort 66427
Justin Stowell, Frankfort High School; Benedictine College, Atchison; Northeast Kansas.

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY
From Wamego 66547
Michael Page, Wamego High School; Kansas State University; Northeast Kansas.

ROOKS COUNTY
From Stockton 66769
Allison Baughman, Stockton High School; University of Kansas; Northwest Kansas.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Goddard 67052
Nathan Norris, Goddard High School; Newman University, Wichita; South-central Kansas.

SMITH COUNTY
From Kensington 66951
Leah Kuhlmann, West Smith County High School; Kansas State University; Northwest Kansas.

WICHITA COUNTY
From Leoti 67861
Braeden Johnson, Wichita County High School; Bethel College, North Newton; Southwest Kansas.

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