SCAN Health Plan Awards $50,000 in Scholarships to Long Beach State University College Students to Help Sustain a Pipeline of Future Professionals in Aging Services Field

LONG BEACH, Calif., Sept. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SCAN Health Plan^®, one of the nation's largest not-for-profit Medicare Advantage health plans, today announced the second cohort to receive the SCAN Health Plan Scholarships for Senior Health and Independence. This scholarship has been awarded to 10 students enrolled in the California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) College of Health and Human Services. The scholarship award totals $50,000, with each student receiving $5,000, which will cover one semester.

"With the number of Americans aged 65 and over growing faster than all other age groups, there is a commensurate need to expand the aging services field," said Romilla Batra MD, SCAN chief medical officer. "We need empathetic professionals across a range of industries who are well-equipped to identify and address the issues seniors face. This year's scholarship recipients are committed to supporting older adults and we are thrilled to help them achieve their professional goals through both the financial and experiential aspects of the scholarship."

SCAN's continued partnership with the Center for Successful Aging within CSULB's College of Health and Human Services focuses on improving older adults' quality of life by extending the scholarship beyond traditional aging services fields. For the 2020-2021 academic year, the scholarships were offered to students under the following majors: Gerontology, DNP Adult & Geriatric Nursing, Master of Social Work in Adulthood & Aging, Physical Therapy, Speech, Kinesiology, Recreation & Leisure, Health Care Administration, Health Sciences, Criminology, Criminal Justice and Emergency Management. The 10 students selected are:

• Adriana Weathersby, Gerontology MS & Cert in Applied Disability Studies
• Briana Barrera, Social Work MSW
• Elena Marin, Nursing MS
• Jaelon Nunez, Gerontology MS
• Jesse Jeffrey Ramirez, Social Work MSW
• Julian Pinedo, Social Work MSW
• Melanie Diaz, Social Work MSW
• Oscar Gomez, Social Work MSW
• Sofia Poulsen Hodjat, Gerontology MS
• Yesenia Gonzalez, Gerontology MS

"At CSULB, support from our community partners allows us to achieve our core goal of preparing students for success in career paths they are passionate about," said Dr. Monica Lounsbery, dean of the CSULB College of Health and Human Services. "With the generosity and expertise offered by SCAN, we can support students who are committed to addressing the unique challenges faced by older adults in all facets of daily living."

About SCAN Health Plan
SCAN Health Plan is one of the nation's largest not-for-profit Medicare Advantage plans, serving more than 220,000 members in California. Since its founding in 1977, SCAN has been a mission-driven organization dedicated to keeping seniors healthy and independent. Independence at Home, a SCAN community service, provides vitally needed services and support to seniors and their caregivers. SCAN also offers education programs, community funding, volunteer opportunities and other community services throughout our California service area. To learn more, visit scanhealthplan.com or facebook.com/scanhealthplan or follow us on Twitter @scanhealthplan.

SOURCE SCAN Health Plan

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https://www.scanhealthplan.com