The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) has introduced the Health Equity Scholars Program (HESP) to tackle health disparities in Milwaukee. This initiative aims to increase the number of physicians practicing in underserved, at-risk communities within the city.
The program is based at the ThriveOn King building, where the first cohort of five medical students will reside once construction is complete. This immersive experience is designed to help students develop a deeper connection to the community and understand its unique healthcare needs.
Joseph E. Kerschner, MD, MCW’s provost and executive vice president, emphasized the critical shortage of physicians trained to care for medically underserved urban communities in Wisconsin. “The Medical College of Wisconsin has a responsibility to train our future physician workforce to meet the healthcare challenges of our time,” Kerschner said.
The HESP will provide additional training in navigating the challenges of caring for at-risk communities, supplementing the core curriculum all MCW medical students receive.
The inaugural cohort includes Gani Ali, Ciara Ayala, Alex Rafael Martinez Colindres, Miracle Powell, and Dalicia Simpson. These students will receive full tuition scholarships, funded by benefactors such as the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment and the Green Bay Packers Foundation.
The program aims to address the severe shortage of primary care physicians in Milwaukee, where 12 of the city’s 33 ZIP codes are designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas.
See “new training program for medical students to address health disparities in Milwaukee” (August 22, 2024)