The demand for healthcare professionals is rising, and in an effort to encourage students to pursue related degrees, medical organizations are launching scholarship opportunities.
For example, the Western Plains Medical Complex Auxiliary, a Kansas-based nonprofit organization, has announced the recipients of its annual financial assistance program. A total of 7 honorees were awarded $1,000 each in scholarships to be used during the 2010-2011 academic year for tuition, housing, books, fees and other costs.
Qualified applicants were residents of southwestern counties in Kansas enrolled in accredited two- and four-year degree programs, specializing in various fields, including occupational therapy, sports medicine, nursing and radiology technology.
The Western Plains Medical Complex Auxiliary is a volunteer association that provides care for both patients and families during short-term hospitalizations. In addition to supplying individuals with methods of care following hospital stays, the organization's staff delivers mail to their patients.
Over the next eight years, the employment of occupational therapists is expected to grow by 26 percent, and that demand will create approximately 26,800 new jobs across the country, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
