ChristianaCare invests $500,000 of support to HBCU-Bound Health students through their Future of Health Scholarship Program

ChristianaCare invests $500,000 of support to HBCU-Bound Health students through their Future of Health Scholarship Program

ChristianaCare awarded $500,000 in scholarships to 10 promising young students who are on their way to HBCU across the country to pursue degrees in health care. This amounts to $12,500 per year and a paid internship each summer for all 10 students. The bright minds being honored are:

• Aniyah Barnett, Hampton University
• Brooke Brothers, Delaware State University
• Solomon Devard, Lincoln University
• Mychele Gibson, Howard University
• Aa’khai Hollis, Bowie State University
• Kianna Kelley, Delaware State University
• Delaney Leonard, Howard University
• Madison Perry, Jackson State University
• Tania Paden, Delaware State University
• Cierra Holmes, Delaware State University

Bettina Tweardy Riveros, J.D., Chief Health Equity Officer and Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Community Engagement at ChristianaCare, spoke on the importance of this effort. “Partnering with the HBCU Week Foundation this year was an exciting new adventure for ChristianaCare, and one we knew we needed to be a part of, given our commitment to the community and to building our health care workforce of the future – in and of the community. It is important for us to remove barriers that are impacting Delaware residents from being able to pursue higher education at historically Black colleges and universities. Being able to offer scholarships, internships and support to these students is another way that we know we are opening up the door to diversify the healthcare profession.”

This scholarship is only one aspect of a long-term effort by ChristianaCare to improve equity, diversity, and inclusivity in the healthcare field. As of 2020, ChristianaCare is officially committed to being an anti-racism organization. They have been recognized as one of the Best Employers for Diversity by Forbes magazine and also named the No. 2 health care employer in the nation for diversity and inclusion and the No. 40 employer nationally. 

Pamela Ridgeway, Chief Diversity Officer for ChristianaCare, believes that this investment speaks to the integrity and community-consciousness of ChristianaCare: “An investment of $500,000 for Delaware residents who choose to go to HBCUs says a lot. The fact that it comes with summer internships for every year and the expectation of employment at the end shows that we are an organization with a commitment.”

Ashley Christopher, Esq., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of HBCU Week Foundation, and an alumna of both Howard University and the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law was excited to speak about the partnership, saying “The HBCU Week Foundation is proud to partner with ChristianaCare to help support these future health care professionals by giving them the academic and networking experiences needed to excel in their intended career choices.”

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