Four Indiana University East School of Nursing and Health Sciences students with an interest in rural health care have been selected for the Class of 2023 Indiana Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Scholars program.

Mackenzie Cook, Richmond, Indiana

The scholars are Mackenzie Cook of Richmond; Candace Cox of Brookville, Indiana; Kayla May of Falmouth, Indiana; and Madison Miller of Charlottesville, Indiana. All are scheduled to graduate in 2023.

The Indiana AHEC Scholars program is designed specifically for students who have an interest in providing care in rural and medically underserved communities across Indiana. The scholars participate in a two-year program that includes a mix of online training and community-based learning in rural and underserved Indiana communities.

Karen Clark, dean of the IU East School of Nursing and Health Sciences, congratulated the nursing students receiving the honor.

“I am pleased that these four B.S.N. students have been selected to participate in the AHEC Scholars program,” Clark said. “This experience in rural and medically underserved areas will enhance their learning and clinical practice with these populations. Their opportunity to collaborate with students from other disciplines and schools will positively impact their ability to work in interdisciplinary teams within healthcare. I truly appreciate the partnership we have with East Indiana AHEC that makes the Scholars program available to our students.”

Candace Cox, Brookville, Indiana

Cook first became interested in considering a healthcare career in rural health in a sociology class at IU East. “I learned more about underserved populations and how healthcare is skewed out of their favor. I believe that everyone deserves quality healthcare, no matter their geographic location or socioeconomic class,” she said.

She knew she would go into nursing as a result of visits to her grandparents when they were in the hospital over the years. “I saw the level of care and comfort they received from the nursing staff and how much of an impact that had on their recovery. I want to be able to make the same difference in someone else’s life during a very scary time.” Cook is leaning toward specializing in geriatric care.

Cox said she grew up in a rural area and saw first-hand issues with underserved populations. “I knew I wanted to be a nurse for as long as I can remember. I enjoy caring for, and being there, for people who need it.” She has an interest in emergency nursing, which is “fast-paced and ever changing. You never know what is going to happen next, and I really enjoy that.”

The scholars program will help Cox expand her knowledge with a variety of populations. “I believe this program is a great opportunity that individuals going into the medical field should take advantage of to expand their knowledge of underserved communities,” she said.

May is also from a rural area, which made rural healthcare “near and dear to my heart.” She knew at an early age that a medical career was right for her. She worked towards becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) while still in high school, and worked as a CNA until her junior year of college.

She was also inspired by her aunt, who is a nurse practitioner. “She is a hard worker, and a great mother and aunt. I have idolized her and her ambition my entire life.” May works in emergency services at Reid Health while completing her degree through the nursing program at IU East. “I will apply the information I acquire from this program every day – regardless if it’s at work or in my free time, it can help me advocate for my community and educate them as well.”

Miller’s interest in rural healthcare was sparked when she began working at Reid Health, though she first talked about being a nurse when she was only four. “There are a lot of people who come to Reid from underserved communities to get help, and I received experience with it from being in that setting.”

As the eldest of two siblings, she’s helped with caring for them as long as she can remember – part of what inspired her to go into nursing. She has a special interest in working with moms.  “I would like to be a labor and delivery nurse because I have always taken great interest in pregnancy. I think that all the things a woman’s body is capable of is just amazing and I want to help be a part of that process.”

About the Indiana Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Scholars Program
The Indiana AHEC Scholars program is a part of a national initiative to prepare tomorrow’s health professionals to become leaders in interprofessional, transformative practice who serve those who need it the most.

The competitive program is designed specifically for individuals who possess a strong drive to provide care to those living in rural and medically underserved communities across Indiana.

Over the two-year program, AHEC Scholars complete didactic and experiential training opportunities with a focus on rural and urban health care and caring for underserved populations with emphasis on the integration of five core issues – behavioral health integration, cultural competency, interprofessional education, practice transformation, and social determinants of health into practice.