March 12, 1997

SPRINGFIELD, IL — A total of $149,900 in state-funded scholarships have been awarded to 20 Illinois nurse practitioner and physician assistant students, Dr. John R. Lumpkin, state public health director, announced today.

"Many parts of Illinois, particularly rural areas, do not have a sufficient number of primary care physicians," Dr. Lumpkin said. "These scholarship recipients will assist with health care services in parts of the state that have the greatest need."

The Allied Health Care Professional Scholarship Program was created in 1993 to increase the number of nurse practitioners, physician assistants and certified nurse midwives practicing in areas of Illinois that have an insufficient number of primary care physicians. Recipients must practice in an underserved area of Illinois for one year for each year scholarship funds were received.

Criteria considered in awarding the scholarships include academic capability, financial need, previous experience with medically underserved populations and a commitment to provide health care services in designated shortage areas in Illinois. The scholarship money can be applied to tuition, mandatory fees and living expenses.

The following students each received $7,500 for the current school year:

• Karen Ammari, Chicago, a nurse practitioner student at St. Xavier University in Chicago;

• Sally Arnett, Arthur, a nurse practitioner student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign;

• Nancy A. Auer, Princeville, a nurse practitioner student at Mennonite College of Nursing in Bloomington;

• Cindy Chaffin, Ipava, a nurse practitioner student at Mennonite College of Nursing in Bloomington;

• Monica Crim, Lomax, a nurse practitioner student at Mennonite College of Nursing in Bloomington;

• Rebecca Currie, Pleasant Plains, a nurse practitioner student at the University of Illinois at Peoria;

• Teresa K. Davis, Broadview, a nurse practitioner student at Loyola University in Chicago;

• Mary Beth Ditman, Jerseyville, a nurse practitioner student at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville;

• Mary E. Durbin, Blue Mound, a nurse practitioner student at Mennonite College of Nursing in Bloomington;

• John D. Fulk, Chicago, a physician assistant student at Malcolm X College in Chicago;

• Kathryn M. Gray, Oak Park, a physician assistant student at Malcolm X College in Chicago;

• Jane Marie Janes, Cisne, a nurse practitioner student at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville;

• Kathleen Kahn, Evanston, a physician assistant student at Malcolm X College in Chicago;

• Kimberly Liskey, Chicago, a physician assistant student at Malcolm X College in Chicago;

• Michael J. Maclean, Gurnee, a physician assistant student at Malcolm X College in Chicago;

• Mary Szpur, Chicago, a physician assistant student at Malcolm X College in Chicago;
• Lisa M. Thomas, Chicago, a physician assistant student at Midwestern University in Downers Grove;

• Linda Upchurch, Beardstown, a nurse practitioner student at Mennonite College of Nursing in Bloomington;

• Sue Valentine, Mount Zion, a nurse practitioner student at Mennonite College of Nursing in Bloomington;

• Janis J. Whitehead, Macomb, a nurse practitioner student at the University of Illinois at Quad Cities.

Illinois Department of Public Health 535 West Jefferson Street Springfield, Illinois 62761 Phone 217-782-4977 Fax 217-782-3987 TTY 800-547-0466 Questions or Comments