Treating the Underserved: Scholarship Winners Strive to Help Overlooked Patients
By Tammy Wishard

LoneStar_Caucus_collage_2022

Growing up in a socioeconomically disadvantaged Dallas neighborhood helped first-generation medical student Jasmine Jones understand the complexities of caring for underserved patients.

Now a second-year student at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) John Sealy School of Medicine, Ms. Jones (above, far left) is among four students selected to receive a $1,500 scholarship from the Lone Star Caucus (LSC) because of their intention to use their personal experience and training to serve the state’s medically needy populations.

“The Lone Star Caucus prides itself in providing a voice for smaller county medical societies, leveling the playing field for rural and suburban physicians, and providing benefits to physicians who might not have access to said resources – all of which also are congruent with helping first-generation medical students become successful physicians in Texas,” Ms. Jones said.

The scholarship will help lessen the financial burden of medical school, she adds, noting first-year students like her often lack financial assistance and resources to succeed academically.

Each of the Lone Star Caucus Medical Student Scholarship recipients has his or her sights set on serving a population that may be overlooked. The other recipients (from second-to-left above) are:

  • Jenna Gage, a third-year student at UTMB, who grew up lacking full medical care and now plans to focus on family medicine in a smaller community. She is an Area Health Education Center scholar, a nomination she received because of her interest in working in a rural or underserved area.
  • Briget Hyde, a fourth-year student at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine (TTUHSC) and also a first-generation medical student, who grew up in the West African nation of Ghana with little or no access to health facilities and services. She will train in physical medicine and rehabilitation with the goal of caring for Texans with spinal cord or traumatic brain injuries.
  • Frank Wathen, also a fourth-year student at TTUHSC, who plans to treat the psychiatric needs of LGBTQ patients and work with patients with substance-use disorders, particularly opioid- and methamphetamine-use disorder.

The Lone Star Caucus, made up of the smaller, nonmetro county medical societies, gives the scholarships annually to medical students who are enrolled in good standing in a Texas medical school, have demonstrated an interest in serving medically underserved populations in Texas, and exhibit strong leadership skills. 

The caucus raises funds for the scholarships from members within LSC, and the Texas Medical Association’s Office of Trust Fund Administration manages donation collection via a (501)(c)(3) charitable fund.   

Donations can be made online (login required) or by sending a check, payable to Lone Star Caucus Scholarship, c/o TMA Finance Department, 401 W. 15th St., Austin, TX 78701-1680. 

Applications for the 2023 Lone Star Caucus Medical Student Scholarships will open next January. If you have questions about the scholarships, email the Lone Star Caucus.

Last Updated On

May 23, 2022

Originally Published On

May 23, 2022

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Tammy Wishard

Account Manager, Division of Communications and Marketing

(512) 370-1470
Tammy Wishard

Tammy Wishard is an account manager in TMA’s Marketing Department. She works with TMA’s Office of Trust Fund Administration and other departments to help communicate the broad range of services and resources TMA offers its members. She has a 25-plus-year history with TMA, where she started as a writer/editor. Tammy, a proud Iowa native, is a graduate of Abilene Christian University.

More stories by Tammy Wishard