Students Honored for Helping the Underserved

November 4, 2009 2:06 PM

Six students in the USC Primary Care Physician Assistant Program have been named National Health Service Corps scholars by the U.S. Bureau of Health Professions.

The federal program awards scholarships to students pursuing primary care health professions training.

Of the nearly 2,000 candidates, only 200 students were designated as scholars this year, with 24 enrolled in studies leading to physician assistant practice.

Second-year students Tina Carbajal, Rachel Newgard, Anoosheh Nikkar and first-year students Jessica Jimenez, Ernest Oriz Jr. and Susanne Valenti earned the distinction because of their diverse skills and experiences, and their commitments to serving the health care needs of medically underserved communities.

Carbajal’s health care experience began 13 years ago at the Antelope Valley Hospital as a junior volunteer and continued more recently as project coordinator at the Varicella Active Surveillance Project for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Service. She earned her MPH degree at UCLA.

Before becoming a clinical research associate for California Clinical Trials, Newgard provided neurological feedback treatment at the Drake Institute of Behavioral Medicine. She has served as a mentor and tutor in two juvenile probation camps, volunteered at UCLA’s Mattel Children’s Hospital and participated in medical missions in West Africa, Nicaragua and Mexico.

After two years as an emergency medical technician at Loyola Marymount University, Nikkar began volunteering at the UCLA Care Extender Program and the Glendale Community Free Clinic. Her intake experience at the clinic led her to a position as scribe for the Emergency Medicine Specialists of Orange County.

Jimenez also is a former emergency medical technician and scribe. Before working at Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach, she was a physical therapy aide and beach lifeguard. She has worked on numerous projects for Hike for a Cure and Habitat for Humanity.

Ortiz has been a community health activist in numerous settings. As community outreach coordinator at Cleaver Family Wellness Clinic in El Monte, Ortiz partnered with the Cal State Los Angeles nursing program and the Our Saviour Center to provide health screenings and food banks. He has worked on projects in San Gabriel Valley with the Community Awareness Motivation Partnership, the Red Ribbon Healthy Kids Committee and Headstart.

Valenti has served the Arthritis Foundation for 15 years as a camp counselor and fund-raiser. She also has been a bilingual tutor and mentor for the Berkeley Familia Center, a diabetes educator for Highland General Hospital and assistant program administrator for the La Clinica de la Raza’s diabetes project.

National Health Service Corps scholars receive support for their tuition, fees, other educational costs and a monthly stipend. In return, scholars agree to provide one year of service in health professional shortage areas of greatest need for each school year or partial school year of scholarship support received.

TAGS: community programs, health

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