By Laura Turner
SDN Staff Writer
There is a growing shortage of physicians entering primary care, especially in the critical field of community and preventive medicine. Over the past 100 years, the greatest advances in human lifespan are due to the efforts of physicians and pharmacists working in the field of preventive medicine.
Recognizing the direct and far-reaching value of community and preventive medicine, the Student Doctor Network (SDN) has committed a portion of its 2009 and future revenues to creation of an annual scholarship program for medical and pharmacy students that plan to enter the field of community and preventive medicine.
Lee Burnett, physician and co-founder of SDN explains, “As a nonprofit charitable organization we have a responsibility to our members and the greater community. Part of our mission is to encourage students to look at those areas of healthcare which provide the most reward, both to their careers and to the world.”
It is hoped that the scholarship will encourage students to take a closer look at the field of community and preventive medicine. Specialists in this field often have dynamic careers in government, academic or research and make decisions that affect thousands or millions of people.
Details of the scholarship will be available shortly.
I am really interested in preventative medicine. I am applying this year for Internal Medicine residency and hope to receive more details about the scholarships.
It’s great to see this. There is such a growing need for more prevention and health education. Medical students often lack understanding about key public health issues that face our nation.