By Sarah Burnett

 

While running across the Galveston Causeway will be a great fitness achievement for all who participate, this year’s UTMB Causeway FunD Run will also contribute to another very important health goal: producing successful health care professionals. The money raised from the run will be used to fund scholarships for UTMB School of Health Professions students.

 

I am a UTMB scholarship recipient and I can testify first-hand to the significance of these awards to students and to the healthcare community. As a second-year student in the UTMB Clinical Laboratory Sciences Program, I know how challenging preparing for a health professions career can be. Scholarship dollars have allowed me to focus on this challenge full time and make the most of my time here at UTMB.

 

I can concentrate on my studies without being distracted by monetary concerns. This is invaluable considering the long hours required to excel in a rigorous program. My scholarship allows me to really focus on my classroom studies and clinical rotations instead of having to work long hours to earn money to pay for school. I am able to commit my time to learning how to be a successful healthcare team member and ultimately help patients to the fullest of my ability.

 

Scholarship dollars have allowed me to be very active in student life. By participating in UTMB organizations such as the American Red Cross Student Organization and the Lambda Tau Honor Society, I have gained valuable leadership experience and learned about the value of community service. I am a volunteer at St. Vincent House Clinic, a free clinic in Galveston run and staffed by UTMB student volunteers. Because of my St. Vincent’s experience, I now better understand the roles and expectations of the whole health team, including medical students, nursing students, and other students like me representing allied health professions. Without scholarship dollars to support my education, I would not be able to participate as fully in these valuable activities.

Scholarships awarded to health professions students like myself benefit the whole community by allowing young professionals to develop their knowledge and skills as fully as possible before entering their fields.

 

Scholarships offer students like me the chance to make the most of their education at UTMB in order to ultimately help patients in the best way possible. For all these reasons, when runners cross the finish line of the Causeway FunD Run Saturday, they will not only be meeting their own health goals, but they are also contributing to the most important goal of health professionals: providing excellent patient care.

 

If you haven’t yet signed up to join us Saturday, you still have time. Registrations will be accepted up until the morning of the race. For complete details, go to http://shp.utmb.edu/fundrun/. Come on out and take the causeway by foot and join us for the party afterwards! It’s a great cause and we appreciate your support so much.