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Dignity Health Partners with Cal Poly to Support Scholarships for Students Aspiring into Health Care

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The Dignity Health Scholars Program will increase academic success for low-income students

CENTRAL COAST, CA – November 27, 2017 – Dignity Health, one of the nation’s largest health systems, is pleased to announce that it has partnered with California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, to provide scholarships to six students annually. Locally, Dignity Health operates Arroyo Grande Community Hospital, French Hospital Medical Center, and Marian Regional Medical Center. 

Scholarships will be awarded to qualifying students at $5,000 per year for a period of five years to support those interested in the medical or health fields and are majoring in biology, biochemistry, nutrition, kinesiology or business. This supplemental funding will offset some of the tuition and housing costs associated with obtaining an undergraduate degree. 

“Dignity Health is proud to partner with Cal Poly to ensure that more students will have the opportunity to achieve a quality education and become active members of the health care community,” says Lloyd Dean, President and CEO of Dignity Health. “Cal Poly offers outstanding programs for health professionals, and we are honored to help provide a successful foundation for the next generation of health care leaders.”

Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong said the university is excited to welcome new students under the Dignity Health Scholars Program. “We are grateful for this generous support from Dignity Health and for the many opportunities it will provide for the future leaders of the health care industry,” Armstrong said. “These scholarships will allow us to change students’ lives through our nationally recognized Learn by Doing programs.” 

Dignity Health Scholars, as they are referred to, will be selected based on eligibility criteria that includes:

  • Meeting the Cal Poly Scholars eligibility criteria (originating from a California partner high school; $80,000 or less family income; $12,000 or less estimated family contribution).
  • Majoring in biology, biochemistry, nutrition, kinesiology or  business.
  • A desire to enter the health care professions

In addition to the tuition assistance, Cal Poly has created an environment conducive to the success of these students. Scholarship recipients must be willing to live on campus for the first two years of their university experience to increase persistence rates and must participate in events, activities and advising programs integral to their success. Each scholar will receive a laptop computer to help ensure they have the resources they need to persevere through graduation. 

For additional information about the Cal Poly scholarship program, please call (805) 756-5615.

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About Dignity Health
Dignity Health, one of the nation’s largest health care systems, is a 22-state network of more than 9,000 physicians, 63,000 employees, and 400 care centers, including hospitals, urgent and occupational care, imaging and surgery centers, home health, and primary care clinics. Headquartered in San Francisco, Dignity Health is dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality, and affordable patient-centered care with special attention to the poor and underserved.  In FY17, Dignity Health provided $2.6 billion in charitable care and community services. For more information, please visit our website at www.dignityhealth.org

About Dignity Health Central Coast 
Dignity Health Central Coast is comprised of five award-winning hospitals, all recognized for their quality of care, safety and service, primary care offices, premier ambulatory surgery centers, technologically advanced imaging centers, outpatient services, and comprehensive home health services. Hospitals in the Dignity Health Central Coast region include Arroyo Grande Community Hospital in Arroyo Grande, French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo, Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital in Camarillo, and St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard. Each hospital is supported by an active philanthropic Foundation to provide additional funding to support new programs and services, as well as to advance the community’s access to health care.  For more information, visit dignityhealth.org/centralcoast.

About Cal Poly
Founded in 1901 and part of the renowned California State University system since 1960, Cal Poly is a nationally ranked, four-year, comprehensive polytechnic public university located in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Known for its Learn by Doing approach, small class sizes and open access to expert faculty, Cal Poly is a distinctive learning community whose more than 21,000 academically motivated students enjoy an unrivaled hands-on educational experience that prepares them to lead successful personal and professional lives. For more information, visit www.calpoly.edu.  

 

Publish date: 

Monday, November 27, 2017