In 2013, the Bloomington Health Foundation gifted $100,000 to endow a scholarship benefiting the IU School of Medicine – Bloomington. The annual scholarship is given to a fourth year medical student who graduated from high school in South-Central Indiana.
This year’s winner is Erich Weidenbener. Erich is the seventh recipient of the scholarship.
On April 5th, BHF President & CEO Jonathan Barada had the opportunity to recognize Erich during the Med School’s annual end-of-year banquet at the Bloomington Country Club.
In his thank you letter to the BHF Erich said, “I loved my 3 years of medical education in Bloomington. Specifically, my 3rd year clerkships at Bloomington Hospital were very special. I was able to train under physicians I have looked up to from a young age and treat patients from the community that helped raise me. I loved the community feel that our hospital has while maintaining a strong academic influence, thanks to the University.
I have developed my passion for the emergency room for some time. Coming from an EMS background, I favored emergency medicine coming into medical school. The more time I’ve spent there, the more I’ve loved it. I never want to leave when a shift is over! In my coming 4th year, I will be doing 3 months in emergency rooms across the country (Indianapolis, Salt Lake City, and Albuquerque) as well as 2 electives in Indianapolis focusing on emergency skills. It is my intention to be trained in an emergency medicine residency after I finish medical school.
My dream would be to come back and work in the Bloomington ED after completion of residency. I would love the opportunity to work alongside the physicians that trained me early in my career as well as give back to the community in any way I can. I think I made a good impression on our staff while on rotations here during 3rd year, so hopefully I’ll have a job when the time comes!
Thank you again for this scholarship. It really means the world to me and I hope I can make BHF and the city of Bloomington proud as I continue throughout my career!”
Bloomington Health Foundation Board and staff congratulate Erich and wish him the best of luck!
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