Milwaukee, WI — Milwaukee Area Health Education Center (AHEC) is proud to announce that two AHEC Scholars, Rebecca Odeh (Marquette Dental Student) and Cordero McCall (MCW Medical Student), have been selected as recipients of the competitive National Multiple Sclerosis Society Scholarship for healthcare professionals committed to caring for people living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in medically under-resourced areas and communities.
Odeh and McCall credit participation in the AHEC Scholars program for honing the skills necessary to provide health care services to people living with MS. AHEC Scholars is a nationally recognized, two-year interdisciplinary education and training program designed to prepare health professions students to serve rural and medically under-resourced communities.
Through didactic coursework, experiential learning, and community engagement, AHEC Scholars develop skills in social determinants of health, interprofessional practice, cultural competency, and community-based care.
“AHEC Scholars has truly broadened my understanding of and perspective on patient populations I was previously unfamiliar with,” said Rebecca Odeh. “The program’s immersive experiences have helped me become a more empathetic, open-minded future provider. Through the National MS Society scholarship, I hope to deepen my knowledge of multiple sclerosis so I can better understand my patients and provide the most comprehensive, high- quality care possible.”
“AHEC Scholars has strengthened my commitment to addressing health disparities by expanding my understanding of community-based care and the structural barriers many patients face,” said Cordero McCall. “Growing up in a community with limited access to quality care shaped my drive to become a doctor focused not only on treating patients, but also on improving the systems that serve underserved populations. Through this scholarship, I aim to integrate clinical care, research, and advocacy to expand access and improve outcomes.”
“These AHEC Scholars exemplify our mission to prepare the future healthcare workforce to meet communities where they are,” said Suzanne Letellier, Executive Director of Milwaukee AHEC. “We are thrilled to see Rebecca and Cordero recognized at the national level for their dedication to improving care for individuals living in under-resourced communities.”
Applications for the AHEC Scholars program are open annually from May through November. Health professions students interested in learning more or receiving application notifications are encouraged to complete an interest form at: https://uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ebAPjlYlaXNXFS6
For more information about Milwaukee AHEC and the AHEC Scholars program, please contact Abby Gerbitz, Milwaukee AHEC Program Manager, at agerbitz@milahec.org.
