The Blake W.H. Smith, PhD, Scholarship provides a stipend of at least $1,000.00 for a CHM student, resident, or faculty member (academic/clinical/volunteer) engaged in furthering the goals of primary health care, or community-oriented medical education with an emphasis on international settings or under-served areas and populations in the United States. Preference will be given to individuals who are not doing a project in their home country.
by Katie Cox, MS4
With this scholarship, I’m able to create and fund a curriculum for the children and families at Odyssey House in Flint, MI this spring. The funds will be allocated towards project materials for the kids, as well as partnerships with local businesses relevant to the program. To me, this award is a significant and meaningful investment in community work with the kids here in Flint. A lot of these kids are coming from non-traditional households or rougher backgrounds, and they do not always have the educational support or resources needed for success in higher education. Furthermore, many of them do not get the early exposure and encouragement needed to pursue a career in STEM. This scholarship allows me the flexibility to create a STEM pipeline program, with an overarching emphasis on self-confidence, teamwork, and empowerment, and to help generate early interest and exposure to our fields.
by Jennifer Chinchilla-Perez, MS3
It is a great honor to be awarded the 2021 Blake Smith Memorial Primary Healthcare Endowed Scholarship. I strive to be a compassionate and culturally aware physician that’s dedicated to providing healthcare in underserved populations, just as Dr. Smith was. The development of the West Michigan Health Careers Pipeline Program will allow 60 high school students from urban and rural communities in West Michigan the opportunity to learn and explore health careers. The program will also center on college readiness, leadership development, and mentorship, with the ultimate goal of increasing the number of highly qualified health care professionals from these underrepresented groups.
The West Michigan Health Careers Pipeline Program (HCPP) is in partnership with Western Regional Area Educational Center- Michigan Area Health Education Center (AHEC), Spectrum Health, Western Michigan University College of Human Service and Michigan State College of Human Medicine.
