FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Contact: Sheanna M. Spence, Assistant Director, Alumni Affairs and Community Relations, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, 304-691-1639
Long-standing group endows scholarship for medical students
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Since the early days of the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, the Cabell County Medical Society Alliance has been working alongside it, lending support and raising scholarship funds.
Because of the vision and leadership of past Cabell County Medical Society Alliance (CCMSA) presidents and officers—Mrs. Maxine Baur, county treasurer; Mrs. Ruth Gilbert, Mrs. Amy Ricard and Mrs. Linda Turner, all of whom are past county and West Virginia State Medical Association (WVSMA) Alliance presidents—the group’s legacy now will live on through an endowed scholarship at the School of Medicine.
“Over the years, our local Alliance members have worked on many projects on the local and state levels promoting our initiatives,” Gilbert said. “While doing this, we created lasting friendships with state and national leaders of the Alliance. We are excited to see our efforts continue through the creation of this scholarship.”
The scholarship, known as the Cabell County Medical Society Alliance Scholarship, is designated for first-year medical students who are residents of Cabell County, West Virginia. The award is renewable for three additional years pending normal academic progress.
“The dedication of these Alliance leaders and their ongoing support for the School of Medicine is second to none,” said Linda S. Holmes, director of development & alumni affairs for the School of Medicine. “Their efforts will continue to make a difference for our future medical students.”
The Cabell County Medical Society Auxiliary of the West Virginia State Medical Association was established in 1925 with the spouses of the practicing physicians in Cabell County as the membership. Their objectives were twofold: cultivating friendliness among physicians’ families and promoting better relations between the profession and the public. The name was later changed to the Cabell County Medical Society Alliance to follow the American Medical Association Alliance’s new name. Over the years, the organization has held health fairs and provided smoking damage information to fifth- and sixth-grade students in the county for many years.
However, CCMSA’s longtime partnership with the School of Medicine goes beyond fundraising and scholarships. One of the projects it is most proud of is the Family Life Education program. For more than 34 years, CCMSA has been partnering with the School of Medicine to teach preteen students about puberty, hygiene, anatomy and reproduction. Teachers may request a classroom visit from a CCMSA member and a family medicine resident physician. Students can anonymously submit written questions to be discussed by the member and the physician during their visit.
“As spouses of physicians, we pledge to support their ideals and activities,” said Turner. “This has proved to be a win-win experience for the teacher, students, Alliance member and the family practice resident.”
For more information on scholarships or to make a gift to the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, please contact Linda Holmes at 304-691-1711 or go to www.jcesom.marshall.edu/alumni.
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Photo Caption: The Cabell County Medical Society Alliance has established a new endowed scholarship with the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. Pictured left to right are past presidents and officers of the organization Linda Turner (left); Ruth Gilbert (second from left); Maxine Baur (second from right); and Amy Ricard (right). Also in the picture are Linda Holmes, director of development and alumni affairs, School of Medicine (third from left) and Sheanna Spence, assistant director, School of Medicine (third from right).
Date Posted: Thursday, June 30, 2016
