Capricia Bell, a third-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.

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

“I came into medical school wanting to deliver culturally-sensitive and patient-centered care to communities plagued by disproportionate health outcomes and health disparities, so the service commitment required by the NHSC scholarship was in a way always part of the plan,” said Bell, who was born and raised in the Chicago area, and spent her adolescence near Atlanta. “I believe that when we work to make systems accessible and beneficial for those most vulnerable, we inevitably help everyone. Reflecting on the experiences faced by Black and Brown communities, my experience working in a Federally Qualified Health Center this past year, and my own interests and passions, it just made sense to try to get support from the NHSC.”

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.

Bell said she chose to seek a career in obstetrics and gynecology because she is passionate about women’s health and “delivering accessible and sensitive care to reduce health disparities seen in those that look like me and other vulnerable communities,” specifically in the realm of women’s health. She is most interested in addressing maternal mortality and racial/ethnic disparities in fertility.
She hopes to serve her post-residency commitment in the Midwest, either in Chicago or Detroit.

Bell said she chose WSU for her medical education because of its heritage of service to the community.

“Wayne was one of the only schools that required students to complete service-learning hours, and that spoke volumes to me, because as someone whose core value is improving the lived experiences of others, I knew engaging with the community would be a big aspect of my medical school experience, and I wanted to go somewhere that cared about that as much as I did,” she said.