Scholarships Empower Medical Students to Serve in Rural Communities

In a heartfelt effort to combat the growing healthcare gap in Idaho, the Primary Care Foundation (PCF) has awarded $50K in scholarships to medical students committed to practicing in primary care fields within underserved communities.

Five aspiring physicians from the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) received scholarships from the PCF, and have pledged to bring their talents and training to rural and medically underserved areas of the Gem State — where family doctors are increasingly scarce.

“Access to primary care isn’t just a service — it’s a lifeline, especially in Idaho’s rural and medically underserved communities,” said Kylie Turner, Executive Director of the Primary Care Foundation. “Our mission is to ensure that care is available where it’s needed most, and osteopathic physicians are uniquely equipped to deliver it through their focus on whole-person, preventive medicine. By supporting these future doctors, we’re helping build a healthier Idaho.”

Funded by generous donors and community partners, the foundation has awarded nearly $200K in scholarships since its inception. Annually, the PCF awards the following scholarships:

• The Primary Care Rural Health Scholarship – Awarded to students with a demonstrated interest in rural medicine and primary care.
• The Austin Jenkins Scholarship – Awarded to students with a demonstrated commitment to the practice of rural medicine and primary care in Idaho. Established in memory of Austin Jenkins, a member of ICOM’s Class of 2023.
• The MacKenzie Gerszewski Scholarship – Awarded to students with a demonstrated commitment to the practice of pediatrics and serving rural communities. Established in memory of MacKenzie Gerszewski, a member of ICOM’s Class of 2023.

This year, the PCF awarded three Primary Care Rural Health Scholarships to Student Doctors Nicholas Davis, Elizabeth Mosqueda-Kasai, and Tyler Whipple. The foundation selected Student Doctor Chase Blizzard as the recipient of the Austin Jenkins Scholarship, and Student Doctor Aspynn Owsley as the recipient of the MacKenzie Gerszewski Scholarship.

All scholarship recipients were selected for their passion for rural medicine, academic excellence, and demonstrated commitment to community service.

The Primary Care Initiative, a non-profit foundation established in August of 2022, was created in partnership between ICOM and Blue Cross of Idaho. Its goal is to encourage new doctors to practice in rural and medically-underserved areas of Idaho through scholarships and medical education debt repayments.