Recent studies have found that between 20% and 30% of frontline healthcare workers in the United States say they have considered leaving the profession in the past year.1 John Davis, however, feels as confident as ever in his pursuit of becoming a physician. Davis grew up in Moulton, Iowa, and hopes to return to the area to work after completing medical school and residency.
Healthcare isn’t a new field to John. He grew up hearing his mother talk about her workdays as a clinic nurse. Then, in a stand-out moment in his education, he was able to shadow his mother at work. “While I was there, I met many doctors, nurse practitioners, and other nurses that told me what a great nurse and caregiver my mother was, and I got to see how what they all did benefits society collectively daily. As a result, I believe in the future of medicine, and due to this belief, I would like to be a part of its bright future,” Davis said.
Davis was a three-time Laboratory Control Ltd. (L.C.L.) scholarship recipient as an undergraduate at Iowa State University. He graduated in 2021 with a Bachelors’ in Biology and a minor in Spanish and is now attending Medical School at A.T. Still University in Kirksville, Missouri. “Classes have been challenging yet very interesting, and I hope I can learn as much as possible through the next few years. After finishing my medical education, I hope to find a residency placement in Emergency Medicine or Internal Medicine,” Davis said.
John was in for a surprise when L.C.L. scholarship recipients were notified for the 2021-2022 academic year. Davis was selected as the recipient of a $5,000 Phil Noel Laboratory Control Ltd. Health Career Scholarship. The special scholarship was created by the Legacy Foundation to show their appreciation for Noel’s service to the Board of Directors. Phil Noel retired from the Legacy Foundation Board of Directors in 2021, coinciding with his retirement as the C.E.O. of Ottumwa Regional Health Center. You can read more about his service here.
“The generous Phil Noel L.C.L. scholarship will allow me to maintain financial independence during my medical education. As there are a fair amount of expenses incurred throughout medical school, I have had to set strict budgets to stay on track with everything,” Davis said after receiving the scholarship award. “I would like to extend a sincere thank you to Mr. Noel and all other board members and staff at the Foundation. Getting to this point in my education and career in healthcare took a lot of support, and I am very grateful to have such an organization as this – with people like Phil – helping me along the way. I hope that I am one day able to be a positive influence and provide compassionate and dedicated healthcare to the residents of southern Iowa.”
The Laboratory Control Ltd. Health Care Career Scholarship Fund is an endowed fund administered by the Legacy Foundation for the express purpose of scholarship support for individuals interested in pursuing a career in health care. The scholarship program intends to invest in the education of those students that may look to southeast Iowa for employment in health care following the completion of their studies. Since it’s inception, 172 students in health care programs of study have received $454,125 in scholarship support. You can find more information regarding the L.C.L. Scholarship program at https://www.ottumwalegacy.org/agenda-for-action/laboratory-control-ltd-health-career-scholarship/
