Page 4 - Medical Association of Atlanta Scholarship Report

MSM Scholarship Impact

Making Student Dreams A Reality

Scholarship Support More Important of access, quality, and equity in health care. They need
than Ever at Morehouse School of Medicine our graduates, but those healthcare professionals can-
not take on these essential jobs at the frontlines of the
health crises in our country if they are trapped under
ore and more elite medical schools are
committing to scholarship programs that
the crushing weight of medical-school debt.
M ill allow some or all of their students to NEED FOR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS
w
attend tuition-free. Generous scholarship support and Studies show that the United States is facing a
gifts like those provided by the Medical Association of shortage of physicians, particularly in primary care and
Atlanta assist our institution’s efforts of implementing in rural and disadvantaged areas. To meet this demand,
this kind of program at Morehouse School of Medicine. MSM has grown its class size by 56 percent over the last
Scholarship support enables MSM to attract stu- few years, and now welcomes 100 MD students annu-
dents to our mission-driven education program and ally, helping to increase the number of culturally com-
allows more financial flexibility to our graduate physi- petent and compassionate physicians needed to serve
cians, so they can afford to practice primary care and vulnerable urban, and rural, populations.
serve the underserved as representatives of the diverse Yet these students face a conundrum. Though
health workforce .... something that our country desper- MSM’s tuition is lower than the national average, so
ately needs now. too are the household incomes of our students. They
Students entering medical school risk accumulating walk away from medical school with debt averaging
debilitating levels of debt, debt that hamstrings them $254,485, higher than the national average at $190,000,
financially and limits their career choices. But now, as and therefore sometimes have to choose higher-paying
the country grapples with coronavirus and racial injus- jobs over those that would do the most good for under-
tice, we as a nation cannot afford to discourage students served populations.
from pursuing jobs that can make the most difference. Because of your support, we are helping to lift that
There is an urgent need for the healthcare profes- burden and free these students to go out and make
sionals that Morehouse School of Medicine is known a difference — and make our medical system safer,
for educating and graduating — those committed to healthier, and more equitable. We sincerely appreciate
serving the Black community and other underserved your support in our mission of creating and advancing
urban and rural populations. health equity and look forward to our continued part-
These are the patients who are disproportionately nership as we make thinrgs better together.
affected by these pandemics, and hardest hit by issues