U of C scholarship to help low income, First Nations and rural students become doctors

The Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary is launching a new scholarship to make becoming a doctor a more realistic goal for some high school students.

The faculty will fund scholarships for five students per year over the next four years as they complete their undergraduate training, and guarantee them admission to medical school if their grades stay up to standard.

The scholarship includes undergraduate tuition, relocation expenses and ongoing mentorship.

Dr. Doug Myhre saysthe aim is to help students from traditionally underrepresented groups, such as low-income families, First Nations youth and rural students.

"The Pathways to Medicine Scholarship is going to allow people that would not normally have been able to access med school to access med school and bring their perspective in," he said.

"This is a long-term project to help transform lives and increase the diversity of the medical school."

Forest Lawn High School grad Srishti Shrivastav saidwinning the scholarship is a game-changer for her.

"I want to meet up with the expectations of the scholarship because it's such a big deal," she said.

With more than seven years of school ahead, Shrivastav says she's prepared to earn her way.

"I think it's going to be difficult but I think it's doable because other people have done it," she said.

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