2023 Primary Care Physician Scholarship recipients

Oct. 30, 2023

Twenty-five aspiring physicians are the latest to benefit from the University of Arizona Health Sciences Primary Care Physician Scholarship Program, which continues to address two critical issues in health care: Arizona’s shortage of primary care physicians and rising debt for medical students.

The Primary Care Physician Scholarship Program awarded scholarships to 14 students in the UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson and 11 in the UArizona College of Medicine – Phoenix. The scholarships, awarded annually, are available to incoming and current students. They allow medical students to pursue careers in primary care without worrying about how they will repay medical school debt. Each scholarship recipient agrees to practice medicine in a federally designated underserved community for at least two years and up to four years after graduation and residency training.

The Primary Care Physician Scholarship Program is currently supporting 92 active medical students. An additional 45 scholarship recipients have graduated and are in various stages of residency training.

Portrait of Ariana Cano, a young woman with long dark hair wearing a white medical coat, with a quote from Cano on the image that reads, "I aim to make an impact on a personal level with my patients, but also make changes at the legislative level for broader benefits."

Portrait of Marin Carter, a young woman with long dark hair wearing a white medical coat, with a quote from Carter on the image that reads, "Our family PCP saved my father's life, and I want to provide that same quality care to others in the community."

Portrait of Lauren Cruz, a young woman with long dark hair wearing a white medical coat, with a quote from Cruz on the image that reads, "As a future physician interested in psychiatry, I hope to provide culturally competent care to undocumented migrants."

Portrait of Van Dexter Difuntorum Calo, a young man with short dark hair wearing a white medical coat, with a quote from Calo on the image that reads, "With the scholarship, I look forward to being on the front lines for those who are overdue for high-quality primary care services."

Portrait of Millicent Darko, a young woman with long dark braids wearing a white medical coat, with a quote from Darko on the image that reads, "I see myself as a doctor who focuses on decreasing the mortality and morbidity rates for Phoenix’s underserved communities."

Portrait of Kara Hapke, a young woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a white medical coat, with a quote from Hapke on the image that reads, "I feel within primary care lies the true heart of medicine. I aim to provide care for all in my community with this philosophy."

Portrait of Marvin Hernandez, a young man with short dark hair wearing a white medical coat, with a quote from Hernandez on the image that reads, "Primary care is the foundation of a healthy, fulfilling life and offers a comprehensive, patient-centered approach to health care."

Portrait of Andre Hirakawa, a young man with short dark hair wearing a white medical coat, with a quote from Hirakawa on the image that reads, "I am driven to pursue underserved medicine because I wish to be a source of consistent guidance for patients who need it the most."

Portrait of Monika Kaur, a young woman with long dark hair wearing a white medical coat, with a quote from Kaur on the image that reads, "I am committed to addressing health care disparities and providing compassionate care to make a meaningful impact in the community.

Portrait of Sig Langsetmo, a young woman with long purple and pink hair wearing a white medical coat, with a quote from Langsetmo on the image that reads, "I am interested in underserved medicine because I have witnessed and experienced first-hand the need for providers in this space."

Portrait of Noah Linskey, a young man with short dark hair wearing a white medical coat, with a quote from Linskey on the image that reads, "My desire to pursue the PCP scholarship was motivated by the populations that I someday intend to serve."

Portrait of Emily Marine, a young woman with long red hair wearing a white medical coat, with a quote from Marine on the image that reads, "As Arizona continues to grow, I am excited to help lead the charge toward meeting our primary care needs."

Portrait of Bassam Mitri, a young man with short curly dark hair wearing a white medical coat, with a quote from Mitri on the image that reads, "With the PCP scholarship, I aspire to offer health care services to diverse patient populations in Arizona’s underserved areas."

Portrait of Hanna Ramos, a young woman with long dark hair wearing a white medical coat, with a quote from Ramos on the image that reads, "As someone with family in medically underserved populations, it’s paramount for me to become the change I wish to see in medicine."

Portrait of Emma Rautenberg, a young woman with long red hair wearing a white medical coat, with a quote from Rautenberg on the image that reads, "I grew up in communities affected by the primary care shortage, and these are the people I want to work with as a physician."

Portrait of Jayne Reines, a young woman with long dark hair wearing a white medical coat, with a quote from Reines on the image that reads, "Twenty years from now I will consider myself successful if I have helped even one Arizonan through my work as a physician."

Portrait of Sabrina Saeed, a young woman with long dark hair wearing a white medical coat, with a quote from Saeed on the image that reads, "I want to be a healer of the heart through active listening, educating and advocating for my patients."

Portrait of Lauren Schutz, a young woman with long dark hair wearing a white medical coat, with a quote from Schutz on the image that reads, "I believe in fostering an environment where patients feel heard, respected and actively involved in their health care decisions."

Portrait of Brenda Valencia, a young woman with long dark hair wearing a white medical coat, with a quote from Valencia on the image that reads, "I hope to make positive memories with my future patients to put them at ease during some of the impactful moments in their lives."

Portrait of Chase Verdugo, a young man with short dark hair wearing a white medical coat, with a quote from Verdugo on the image that reads, "The physician shortage has inspired me to pursue the PCP scholarship and to give back to underserved communities like the one I come from."