A second-year medical student at the Wayne State University School of Medicine has been awarded a National Health Scholars Corps Scholarship by the Health Resources & Services Administration.

Nikita Sathiaprakash, who intends to become a pediatrician, will receive support for tuition and fees as well as a monthly stipend for three years of medical school under the scholarship. In return, she has committed to serving as a physician after her residency for three years in a region designated a Health Professional Shortage Area.

“I will get to provide primary health care services to a community in need, which connects back to why I came to Wayne in the first place,” said Sathiaprakash, originally from Marysville, Ohio.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from Ohio State University, she chose the WSU School of Medicine for her medical education because of the school’s dedication to service. 

“I do recognize the importance of research and I did do research (and am still doing research). But my passion is really with being able to help others in any way I can,” she said. “When I interviewed at Wayne and read through the website, I could easily tell that Wayne is dedicated to serving the community of Detroit. I did a lot of volunteering in undergrad and wanted to continue being able to work with the community, and I have happily been able to do that here.”

The National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program awards scholarships to students pursuing eligible primary care health professions training. In return, scholars commit to providing primary care health services in Health Professional Shortage Areas.

Sathiaprakash has known since starting high school that she wanted to become a pediatrician. “Doing the Clinical Experiential Clerkship in Pediatrics has definitely been solidifying that choice for me,” she said.