Northeast Scores Rare Triple in State’s Rural Physicians Scholarship Program

Northeast Rare Triple

NMMC recently pulled off a rare triple when three sophomores were admitted to the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program (MRPSP), a rarity that no other two- or four-year college/university was able to accomplish during the 2013-14 academic year. Chris Beard of New Albany, McKenzie Gates of Corinth and Katelin Wallace of Tishomingo were able to give the Booneville-based college its top honor as all three were accepted to the exclusive program. Congratulating the trio on their acceptance to the MRPSP at the college’s annual Iota Zeta chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Day were (from left) Northeast president Dr. Johnny L. Allen, Ed.D., Gates, Beard, Wallace and Mathematics and Sciences representative Dr. George Nock.

BOONEVILLE, Miss. (Press Release) — Northeast Mississippi Community College pulled off the rare triple earlier in the year.

Northeast was able to secure three spots in the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program (MRPSP) – something no other two-year or four-year college or university was able to do during the 2013-14 academic year.

Chris Beard of New Albany, McKenzie Gates of Corinth and Katelin Wallace of Tishomingo were able to give the Booneville-based college its top honor as all three applied for the exclusive program and were accepted.

Beard carries a biochemistry area of concentration while Gates focuses on biology. Wallace, who was the college’s 2013-14 Student Government Association president, concentrated on integrated marketing communication while at Northeast.

Created in 2007, the Mississippi Rural Physicians’ Scholarship Program identifies college sophomores, who demonstrate the necessary commitment and academic achievement to become a competent, well-trained rural primary care physician in Mississippi.

After their sophomore years in Booneville, Beard, Gates and Wallace will enter the cornerstone phase of the Mississippi Rural Physicians’ Scholarship Program – which is a two-year undergraduate pre-matriculation phase that leads to admission to medical school.

During their two-year pre-matriculation phase, Gates, Beard and Wallace will also be introduced to an academic enrichment program that will include preparation for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and longitudinal rural clinical experience.

After completion of the two-year pre-matriculation program and all medical school academic requirements, Beard, Gates and Wallace will have a chance at a direct admission to the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s School of Medicine after meeting preset admissions criteria including Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and grade point average scores.

During medical school, each Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program scholar may receive $30,000 per year based on available funding. Additional benefits include personalized mentoring from practicing rural physicians and academic support.

In four years of medical school, each $30,000 scholarship will equate to $120,000 of covered cost for Beard, Gates and Wallace apiece.

Upon completion of medical training, Mississippi Rural Physicians’ Scholarship Program participants must enter a residency program in one of five primary care specialties: family medicine, general internal medicine, medicine-pediatrics, OB/GYN or pediatrics and the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program Scholar must provide four (4) years of service in a clinic based practice in an approved Mississippi community of 20,000 or fewer located more than 20 miles from a medically served area.

Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program provides a means for rural Mississippi students to earn a seat in medical school, earn MCAT preparation valued at $2,000, earn a $120,000 medical school scholarship in return for four years of service and learn the art of healing from practicing rural physicians.

For more information, contact Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program Executive Director Wahnee Sherman e at 601-815-9022, wsherman@umc.edu or http://www.umc.edu/mrpsp/.

Categories: Local News

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *