Mayo Clinic accepting applications for the Leo F. Black Scholarship award

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Mayo Clinic is currently accepting applications for our 2007 Leo F. Black Health Career Scholarships for individuals pursuing careers in healthcare. Scholarships of $1,000 each will be awarded to 15 graduating high school seniors in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties.

In 1992, Mayo Clinic's Leo F. Black Health Career Scholarship started with five $500 awards to area high school students.

"We wanted to help and encourage students who were considering medical careers," says Jerald Pietan, M.D., a Mayo Clinic radiologist who spearheaded those workforce diversity efforts.

In 2005, 15 high school students were awarded $1,000 for college-level education in a health-care field.

In addition, each year, five previous Leo Black scholarship recipients are awarded $1,000 from the St. Luke's Hospital Continuing Health Career Scholarship Fund based on their achievements during the first year of college.

In all, 198 scholarships have been awarded. A 2005 survey showed that past recipients have earned degrees in pharmacy, nursing, health sciences and community health. Several have earned advanced degrees in health-care fields.

For more information, call (904) 953-0745.

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