MEDEX is pleased and proud to share the news that Clinical Year student Angel Adams (Kona Class 4) was recently awarded the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship. This is a very significant accomplishment and commitment. Scholarship awardees “must serve a minimum two years of service at a National Health Service Corps-approved site in a Health Professional Shortage Area. The National Health Service Corps is a nationwide program. Only those students who are committed to practicing primary care and are able to relocate to Health Professional Shortage Areas based on the needs of the National Health Service Corps should consider becoming a National Health Service Corps scholar.”

Angel kindly shared her reflections with us on why she applied for this scholarship and what this opportunity means to her.

I applied for the NHSC scholarship because I resonate with the HRSA mission to bridge the healthcare workforce gap in underserved and rural communities. This scholarship is not just a blessing; it represents a commitment I made when I applied to PA school—to utilize my future expertise to serve those who are less fortunate and live in areas where healthcare is scarce.

I am truly honored to be among the few selected recipients of the NHSC scholarship. I encourage every student who is passionate about helping underserved populations to apply. This scholarship offers a remarkable opportunity to gain invaluable experience after graduation and give back to those who might otherwise go without essential healthcare services.

My hope is to continue working with HRSA in some capacity, dedicating my efforts as a Physician Assistant to fill the gaps in healthcare and promote health equity for all.

Angel has dedicated her life to service. As a teenager, she started a peewee cheer league to provide safe after-school activities for young girls in her neighborhood—many of whom later earned college cheer scholarships. Later, as a trainer, she led nutrition and exercise classes for elderly community centers, sparking the creation of community gardens that still feed the community today. Most recently, she was selected—two years in a row—as one of just six members nationwide for the prestigious Health Justice Council of the Social Mission Alliance.

The following excerpt from her scholarship essay, which she graciously shared with us, further highlights how very aligned she is with the mission of the NHSC to “build healthy communities by supporting qualified health care providers dedicated to working in areas of the United States with limited access to care.”

I now see the advantage of coming from a disadvantaged background, but for those who do not, we must teach the importance of serving those communities on all levels of healthcare education. The change begins with us.

I am privileged to attend a PA school with a mission to produce professionals committed to serving underserved communities. Its curriculum not only explains the “why” but also emphasizes the “how.”

As I continue to fight from both the justice and the healthcare service angle, I hope to stop the miseducation of what the underserved community deserves and do my part in providing the care they need. We cannot miseducate future healthcare professionals, causing them to be afraid and judgmental toward the communities we expect and need them to help.

Angel’s commitment aligns strongly with both NHSC and MEDEX missions, which share the goal of expanding health care access for underserved populations. MEDEX is incredibly proud of her and her accomplishments, and we look forward to seeing her continued growth and impact. Congratulations, Angel!