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By Jeff Wilson<\/strong><\/p>\n For many, a career in the upper levels of health care can seem out of reach. Finding the time and money it takes to earn the necessary education is a daunting obstacle for most.<\/p>\n In 1972, the SIU School of Medicine established the Medical\/Dental Education Preparatory Program, better known as MEDPREP. The program provides assistance to educationally and\/or economically disadvantaged students, and it has helped more than 1,000 students matriculate into medical or dental school.<\/p>\n Even with the MEDPREP option, students face an uphill battle when it comes to paying tuition and bills, while juggling classes, work and a personal life. It\u2019s in this area that scholarships fill the void.<\/p>\n A lasting legacy<\/strong><\/p>\n A longtime biology instructor for MEDPREP, Shirley McGlinn passed away in late 2012. After her death, the Shirley J. McGlinn Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to benefit MEDPREP students. To honor Shirley\u2019s contributions, MEDPREP is holding a special fundraising drive this year to endow the scholarship to ensure student support for years to come.<\/p>\n McGlinn was well-known for her support of students. She believed in mentorship and providing financial support. Along with fellow MEDPREP faculty members, she authored several editions of \u201cMeeting the Challenge of the MCAT,\u201d which helps prepare students for the test.<\/p>\n The scholarship is one of only a handful that support MEDPREP students, and like all scholarships, further support is always welcome. [A gift of any size to the Shirley McGlinn Endowed Scholarship fund will help us reach our $25,000 endowment goal and ensure continued scholarship support for students.]<\/p>\n Inspired to make a difference<\/strong><\/p>\n Stacey Joseph lived with her family in Haiti for 11 years before moving to Florida in 2004. They came for a vacation, but family and friends urged them to stay and seek asylum in the U.S.<\/p>\n \u201cMy parents wanted to create a better life for me and my siblings,\u201d she said. \u201cI was fortunate to have that experience to live in Haiti. I was able to observe the suffering due to the poverty and the lack of medical services. That got me interested in helping people. I saw that even in the U.S. there were some areas that had similar issues.\u201d<\/p>\n After earning a bachelor\u2019s degree in biology from Florida State, Joseph knew she wanted to be a physician. Her sister had a friend who was in MEDPREP, so she decided to apply.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew that it caters to students that are underrepresented in the medical community,\u201d she said. \u201cI could tell by reading the information online that it was a family-oriented program. I needed that guidance.\u201d<\/p>\n After being accepted, Joseph was awarded the McGlinn Scholarship.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was very inspiring to receive that scholarship,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m so thankful for the opportunity to be a MEDPREP student. It changed me as a person. Without it, I don\u2019t think I\u2019d be going to medical school.\u201d<\/p>\n Helping the community<\/strong><\/p>\n Oscar Castro grew up in East Moline and attend the University of Iowa as an undergraduate.<\/p>\n \u201cI struggled to effectively study,\u201d he said. \u201cHigh school didn\u2019t prepare me as well as I would have liked.\u201d<\/p>\n Now, he\u2019s nearing completion of the MEDPREP program and has two medical school acceptances on the table.<\/p>\n \u201cThe program showed me the best way for me to learn and how to implement what I learned,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Castro has had steady employment since his high school days, but receiving the McGlinn Scholarship allowed him to put more focus on his studies.<\/p>\n \u201cIt gives me some wiggle room,\u201d he said. \u201cDuring busy times, I can reduce my work hours. That has really helped me.\u201d<\/p>\n While he hasn\u2019t settled on a specialty, he knows that he wants to give back to his community and the program that opened so many doors for him.<\/p>\n \u201cI would like to return to my hometown area and serve that population,\u201d he said. \u201cI want to help people who are in my former position and contribute to the MEDPREP scholarships. I think it\u2019s important to help those people advance to where they want to be.\u201d<\/p>\n Easing the burden<\/strong><\/p>\n Chinue Wilford has always loved kids. She plans to go into pediatrics after her days in MEDPREP.<\/p>\n \u201cKids just bring a certain type of energy into a room,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Of course, becoming a doctor hasn\u2019t always seemed to be a likely route for Wilford.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing an African-American female, there\u2019s not a lot of representation,\u201d she said. \u201cThere\u2019s not a lot of people in the profession who look like me.\u201d<\/p>\n Even with the opportunities provided by MEDPREP, financial assistance has been key to her success. The McGlinn Scholarship eased the burden on her and her parents.<\/p>\n \u201cFinancial aid can only do so much,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was a great relief. My parents have helped me all they can, but I have other siblings that plan to attend college and also need financial assistance.\u201d<\/p>\n Giving is important to Wilford, and she hopes to help others with her donations in the future.<\/p>\n \u201cYou never know what individuals are going through and what kind of impact you can have on their lives,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n How to give<\/strong><\/p>\n Donations can be made year-round at www.siumed.edu\/foundation<\/a>. For specific information on MEDPREP scholarship giving, please visit www.siumed.edu\/medprep<\/a> and click on \u201cAbout\/Scholarships.\u201d On March 6, donors can help celebrate the SIU Day of Giving my visiting www.siuday.siu.edu<\/a> and making a gift to benefit the scholarship, program or unit of their choice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Jeff Wilson For many, a career in the upper levels of health care can seem out of reach. Finding the time and money it takes to earn the necessary education is a daunting obstacle for most. In 1972, the SIU School of Medicine established the Medical\/Dental Education Preparatory Program, better known as MEDPREP. The … Continue reading Scholarships bridge the gap: MEDPREP students receive, prepare to give back<\/span> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/stacey-joseph.jpg\")
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