Go Red For Women and Macy's Join Forces to Drive Diversity in Medicine
(Des Moines, Iowa October 11, 2012) ? Tuition hikes at colleges and universities across the nation are putting the squeeze on many young people and forcing families to find new ways to pay for higher education or consider forgoing college altogether. In an effort to ease the burden to students during these rough economic times and increase the number of underrepresented minorities in medicine, the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women® and Macy's, its national sponsor, offer the Go Red® Multicultural Scholarship Fund.
Sixteen $2,500 national scholarships are being offered for a second year to multicultural women pursuing higher education in health care. As part of its Go Red For Women movement, the association strives to expand the pipeline of much-needed diverse nursing and medical students and address important gaps in treatment that can lead to heart health disparities.
Candidates must complete an application, personal essay and submit two letters of recommendation. Online applications are available Sept. 10 through Nov. 30, 2012.
"We're experiencing a shortage of Hispanic and African-American healthcare professionals in Iowa," says Jacquie Easley, Director of Diversity and Community Services at Mercy Medical in Des Moines and American Heart Association Board Member. "Fewer than .5% of the healthcare professionals in our state are minorities, which doesn't reflect the demographics of the communities we serve. This scholarship could help change that."
College tuition rates have outpaced inflation, increasing between 5 and 35 percent ? depending on the region and type of institution (public vs. private).
Demand on health care continues to increase, but the number of multicultural women working in U.S. hospitals and medical schools is low ? even as the U.S. population becomes increasingly diverse.
"Macy's investment in the Go Red Multicultural Scholarship Fund provides opportunities for multicultural women pursuing degrees in healthcare, helping them to achieve their education and career goals," said Bill Hawthorne, Macy's Senior Vice President of Diversity Strategies. "The fund reflects Macy's long-standing commitment to diversity, a core principle within our company, and allows us to extend that commitment into the communities we serve."
Research shows that numerous ethnic groups ? including African-Americans and Hispanics ? are disproportionately affected by cardiovascular disease and risk factors, confront barriers to diagnosis and care, and experience worse health outcomes than their Caucasian counterparts.
"The American Heart Association is in a unique position to be a leader in helping to eliminate cardiovascular disease and health disparities by providing scholarships to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in medicine," said Icilma Fergus, M.D., director of the Cardiovascular Disparities Center at Mount Sinai Hospital and president-elect for the Association of Black Cardiologists.
Only 6.7 percent of African-Americans and 7.5 percent of Hispanics made up the total number of medical school graduates in 2010, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.
"The American Heart Association's Go Red Multicultural Scholarship provides a much-needed vehicle during these tough financial times to help minority women achieve their dream of becoming a healthcare professional," said Dr. Lynne Holden, physician and president of Mentors in Medicine. "There is a unique opportunity to save millions of lives by promoting heart heath and increasing awareness of heart disease, which is the No. 1 killer in the U.S."
The Go Red® Multicultural Scholarship is made possible by the Macy's Multicultural Fund. Macy's has supported the scholarship fund regionally in New York since 1998. In 2011, Macy's and The American Heart Association's Go Red For Women collaborated to offer the scholarship on a national scale. Macy's is a national sponsor of Go Red For Women® and has helped raise more than $29 million for the cause since 2004. For more information and to complete an application, visit GoRedForWomen.org/GoRedScholarship.
#####
About Go Red For Women
Go Red For Women is the American Heart Association's solution to save women's lives. With one out of three women still dying from heart disease, we are committed to fighting this No. 1 killer that is preventable. GoRedForWomen.org, a premier source of information and education, connects millions of women of all ages and gives them tangible resources to turn personal choices into life-saving actions. We encourage women and the men who love them to embrace the cause. For more information please visit GoRedForWomen.org or call 1-888-MY-HEART (1-888-694-3278). The movement is nationally sponsored by Macy's and Merck & Co., Inc.
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. Our mission is to build healthier lives by preventing, treating and defeating these diseases - America's No. 1 and No. 3 killers. We fund cutting-edge research, conduct lifesaving public and professional educational programs, and advocate to protect public health. To learn more or join us in helping all Americans, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit americanheart.org.
