Ambitious Donegal students have been announced as Ireland Health Care Scholars for 2024 by The United Health Foundation, the philanthropic foundation of Optum Ireland’s parent company, UnitedHealth Group.
The Ireland Health Care Scholarship Program supports dedicated scholarships in health care and emerging health care technologies to ATU, Ulster University, Queen’s University Belfast, the University of Galway and the Royal College of Surgeons Dublin.
The 2024 Scholars are:
ATU Donegal: Molly Gallagher, General Nursing (Rosses Community School); Zara Neely, Early Childcare, Health & Education (Loreto Letterkenny); Shay McGinlay, Computing (St Eunan’s College)
ATU Sligo: Malachi Christian, Software Engineering (Errigal College); Gift Amando, Social Care (St Catherine’s Vocational School, Killybegs)
Ulster University: Sorcha Doherty, Biomedical Science (Scoil Mhuire Buncrana); Barry Crawford, Psychology (Mulroy College)
University of Galway: Lauren McCrory, Speech & Language Therapy (St Columba’s Stranorlar); Sophie Gallagher, Bio-medical Science (Loreto, Milford)
Queen’s University: Aisling Nic Pháidín, Pharmaceutical Medicine (Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair)
Graduate Medicine, School of Medicine Ulster University, Derry: Cassandra Harold and Ellie Ward.
Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin: Iffat Imran, Undergraduate Medicine (Coláiste Bríde, Clondalkin); Dillon Murphy, Graduate Medicine (Gaelcholáiste Chomáin)
This year’s Ireland Healthcare Scholars will benefit from annual financial assistance, tailored supports and scholars will participate in community volunteering activities.
With the addition of the 14 new scholars, the scholarship program supports 42 scholars across five academic institutions in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Fifteen scholars have successfully graduated from the program since 2018.
“This program is facilitating equitable access to third level education in Ireland” said Erin Schmuker, Managing Director of Optum Ireland and UK. “We have seen over recent years how young people from diverse backgrounds have excelled with the support of the scholarship and I am delighted to announce this year’s recipients.”
The Principal of Mulroy College, Fiona Temple highlighted the benefits of the scholarship program, saying “The financial aid coupled with the guidance and support of the academic institution and Optum Ireland is invaluable. The program provides our students with an incredible opportunity to achieve their potential, build valuable relationships and enhance their career prospects.”
Dearbhlá Butterly, is an Ireland Health Care Scholar and a third-year student in the School of Medicine at Ulster University in Derry. She said: “The support and reassurance given by the scholarship is truly difficult to put into words. I did not know how I was going to navigate through the financial limitations but with the support of the scholarship, I have been able to focus on my studies and on becoming a well-rounded medical practitioner.”
