The Health Plan (THP) has opened its medical scholarship program to students at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM).
Since 2009, The Health Plan Scholarship program has provided over $3 million in scholarships to more than 50 medical and nursing students who intend to stay and practice in the state of West Virginia.
On July 19, Jeff Knight, president and CEO of THP, and James W. Nemitz, Ph.D., president of WVSOM, celebrated the osteopathic medical school’s inclusion in the need-based scholarship program, which is alsoavailable to medical and nursing students at West Virginia University and Marshall University.
Knight said including WVSOM builds on THP’s efforts to support West Virginia medical community.
“The healthcare staffing shortage continues to be a significant issue in West Virginia. The Health Plan is committed to supporting our state’s healthcare workforce, and we’re thrilled to team up with WVSOM to offer our scholarship program to its students. WVSOM does amazing work in both educating our future providers and advocating for healthcare initiatives important to all West Virginians. We’re proud to be partners,” Knight said.
Nemitz thanked Knight and The Health Plan for offering the scholarship program at WVSOM, which educates an average of nearly 800 medical students each year. According to the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, the school is No. 1 in producing physicians who practice in West Virginia, with 40% of the state’s physicians being WVSOM graduates.
“WVSOM is appreciative that The Health Plan has included osteopathic medical students in its scholarship program. Medical school is not inexpensive. This scholarship, by financially assisting recipients who want to stay in West Virginia, benefits not only our students but the state. The Health Plan shows its commitment to the health and well-being of the communities it serves through its products and services and by supporting healthcare professionals, medical education and healthy-living initiatives. The program is a tremendous opportunity for WVSOM students,” Nemitz said.
With this new opportunity, WVSOM students were able to apply in the final month of the 2024-25 scholarship cycle and will be eligible for the full 2025-26 period. The scholarship pays for tuition and fees at the school’s in-state rate and can be renewed for up to four years.
