Hospital Foundation Awards $260K In Health Care Scholarships

Iowa Hospital Association subsidiary IHERF (Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation) recently awarded $260,000 in health care education scholarships to students pursuing health care degrees.

This year, IHERF provided 60 $3,000 scholarships to Iowans pursuing clinical degrees in Iowa-based programs who also agree to work in Iowa hospitals for each year of scholarship support (up to two years). Thirty-six recipients currently are working in Iowa hospitals, and 24 are pursuing degrees to eventually work in Iowa hospitals.

An additional 40 $2,000 scholarships went to graduating Iowa high school seniors entering clinical degree programs.

Since its inception in 2004, the IHERF Health Care Careers Scholarship Program has supported aspiring health care professionals. The program was designed to address the shortage of health care professionals and to encourage Iowans to develop or continue their careers with Iowa hospitals. The first scholarships were awarded in 2005; to date, more than 802 students have been beneficiaries of this initiative.

IHERF, a wholly owned subsidiary of the IHA, is a charitable nonprofit exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. IHERF is dedicated to advancing medical and paramedical sciences through research, scholarships, education and other philanthropic activities. Besides the Health Care Careers Scholarship Program, IHERF's 15-member board of directors oversees the Hospital Employee Disaster Relief Fund, demonstrating its commitment to the well-being of Iowa's health care professionals.