WAUSAU – The Aspirus Health Foundation recently awarded three medical students $450,000 in scholarships through its Aspirus Scholars Program to help alleviate the physician shortage in north central Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.

The students, all from the Medical College of Wisconsin-Central Wisconsin campus, accepted their scholarships during a February ceremony at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

The program provides generous scholarships for tuition to medical students and connects them to Aspirus and the communities served by Aspirus during their training. In return, students commit to employment at Aspirus in the areas of primary care, psychiatry or general surgery.

Scholarships were accepted by:

  • Hailey Daigle, first year medical student (Hometown: Merrill)
  • Meghan Peterson, first year medical student (Hometown: Hopkins, Minnesota)
  • Jaclyn Schneider, first year medical student (Hometown: Wisconsin Rapids)

“This program is a great example of our commitment to ensuring our patients and families have access to the best health care providers to serve our patients today and for future generations,” said Matt Heywood, president and CEO of Aspirus, Inc. “Securing these types of commitments early helps us supplement our efforts to recruit physicians to practice in rural areas.”