November 17 is National Rural Health Day, which acknowledges health care
challenges faced in rural communities and celebrates current and future
professionals working every day to improve health outcomes for all.
On National Rural Health Day, EKU and Anthem Medicaid recognize two new
scholarship recipients working to transform lives in eastern Kentucky
Eastern Kentucky University and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medicaid
in Kentucky today announced the expansion of the Anthem Medicaid Rural
Scholarship to grow the number of frontline workers in the eastern region
of the state and increase access to care and improve health equity for
those living in Kentucky’s rural areas.
The scholarship fund of nearly $200,000 to EKU’s health science program
will enable more students to provide care in underserved communities.
Anthem Medicaid launched the scholarship in August 2021, granting eight
students the opportunity to pursue health education and eventually serve
in eastern Kentucky.
“Building relationships and trust is such a large part of health care,”
said Dr. David McFaddin, Eastern Kentucky University President. “Students
at EKU understand the communities in which they work, and this education
will help them provide family, friends and neighbors with the best care
possible.”
Compared to those in urban areas, thousands of rural Kentuckians lack
access to locally available health care professionals and services, and
face longer travel times to reach a hospital or health care facility.
In response to this need, the Anthem Medicaid Rural Medicine Scholarship
will continue to provide primary care access for more than 1,000 Medicaid
members per year per student.
This year’s Anthem Medicaid Rural Medicine Scholarship recipients are
Breanna Goble, a Johnson County, Kentucky native, and Sara Cornelison, a
Madison County, Kentucky, native.
“I am so grateful to be receiving the Anthem Medicaid Rural Medicine
Scholarship,” said Cornelison. “This scholarship has helped me come close
to achieving my dream of being a nurse practitioner. I hope to use my
knowledge of rural health nursing to impact my community and communities
around me that are underserved. Funding is a major issue for rural
Kentuckians when it comes to education, so this scholarship opportunity is
greatly appreciated and will be used to hopefully better these communities
in the future.”
