Lakeland Community College, in partnership with Medical Mutual of Ohio and Lake Health, has announced a new scholarship available for students in health care fields that have critical shortages.
Medical Mutual of Ohio has established the new scholarship fund through the Lake Health Foundation.
According to the school, the funding amount totaling $100,000 will help defray the cost of tuition for Lakeland students enrolled in their second year of designated programs.
As part of the scholarship agreement, recipients will commit to work for Lake Health after graduation, where they will have an opportunity to pursue a long-term career ladder, based on eligibility.
The scholarship will be administered through Lake Health.
“The cost of education is frequently cited as the leading reason that many students drop out of school,” said Greg Sanders, executive director of the Lakeland Foundation and vice president for institutional advancement.
“On behalf of the students that this funding will be helping, we thank Medical Mutual for this generous gift.”
Lakeland officials confirm scholarship funding will be distributed for fall semester 2020, and will cover the entire amount of tuition for students in the following associate degree programs:
* Medical laboratory technology
* Nursing
* Occupational therapy assistant
* Respiratory therapy
The scholarship has also been designated to cover tuition for the medical assisting and phlebotomy certificates.
Funding does not cover books, placement testing, or fees for background checks and drug tests.
Associate Provost for Teaching and Learning Deborah L. Hardy, who also serves as dean of faculty and dean of health technologies, believes the collaboration between Lakeland, Lake Health and Medical Mutual Foundation comes at a perfect time in support of students and soon-to-be essential workers.
“This extraordinary partnership brings together extraordinary Northeast Ohio organizations to address the urgent and increasing need for health care professionals within the immediate communities, and provides the framework for employment after graduation,” she said.
Across the health care industry, job openings are at record highs, with over 1.2 million jobs open. According the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly 2 million nurses are needed over the next decade to keep pace with demand under the current care delivery structures.
The Lakeland partnership aims to educate future health care professionals and strengthen the economy and quality of care within Lake and surrounding counties.
“We are at a critical juncture with a shortage in health care workers,” said Mark Flash, executive director of the Lake Health Foundation. “Few other industries are racing the clock to find a future-ready workforce and today’s announcement is the shot in the arm that will help close those gaps in Lake County.”
For more information, contact Operations Coordinator Tracy Dennis at Tracy.Dennis@lakehealth.org.