REP. THOMPSON ANNOUNCES $2.52 MILLION FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AT TOURO UNIVERSITY ON MARE ISLAND

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) today announced a $630,000 Health Resource and Service Administration grant that will fund scholarships for students at Touro University on Mare Island. The grant makes $630,000 available each year for the next four years, totaling $2.52 million. The funding made available by this grant will be used to provide scholarships for 42 students through the Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) program at Touro University. Each year, 21 students, seven in each class, will receive $30,000. Specifically, of the 42 students who will benefit from the grant over the next 4 years, 14 students will receive one scholarship, 14 will receive two scholarships (one per year) and 14 will have received scholarship funding for all three years.

“Every student deserves a fair shot at fulfilling their academic goals and achieving their dreams, regardless of economic status or any other factor,” said Rep. Thompson. “I look forward to seeing students at Touro University benefit from this federal funding in the years to come. I’ve no doubt they will go on to do great work armed with their first-rate education.”

“Receiving this scholarship grant is quite the accomplishment for our campus community and a realization of their values, passion and perseverance," Marilyn Hopkins, PhD, Provost and Chief Operating Officer of Touro University California said. "It will allow us to further demonstrate our commitment to the underserved community and allow new students the opportunity to pursue a professional career."

"I’m thrilled that we will be able to provide scholarships to our students," said Grace Landel Program Director of Touro University California's Joint MSPAS/MPH Program. "Our mission here at Touro is to train quality PAs to work within underserved populations, to recruit applicants from these communities or individuals with a demonstrated interest in serving these communities, and increase access to care for underserved populations. These scholarship funds will have a tremendous impact on furthering that goal."

With this funding, the Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) program aims to increase the:

• Number of Touro graduates practicing in primary care;
• Enrollment and retention of full-time students from disadvantaged backgrounds including students who are members of racial and ethnic minority groups;
• Number of Touro graduates providing medical care within medically underserved communities (MUCs).