CHSU Scholarship Gala Exceeds Fundraising Goal
July 7, 2023
California Health Sciences University (CHSU) hosted its 6th annual Ignite the Future Scholarship Gala on June 24, 2023. Community partners had the opportunity to support CHSU students during their medical and pharmacy education through the CHSU Scholarship Fund. Over the course of the night, CHSU exceeded its fundraising goal.
The event was held on campus at the CHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine building, and guests enjoyed a cocktail hour and delectable dinner. Larry Powell emceed the event where guests heard from a CHSU pharmacy alumni and a current CHSU medical student who spoke about the impact receiving a scholarship has had on their careers.
CHSU President, Florence T. Dunn spoke about the university’s accomplishments and pride points. She also introduced a vision committee of eight (8) women leaders that formed The One Hundred to build the CHSU student scholarship fund after recognizing the immeasurable impact of graduating healthcare providers in our underserved community.
“The vision committee invites like-minded women to form a group of 100 founding members to invest in the future of accessible health care in our region,” said Florence T. Dunn, CHSU President.
Those in attendance were invited to become a founding member of The One Hundred, “to help empower, inspire, and inform others about the shortage of physicians and the urgency to help students get the resources needed to pursue higher education,” stated President Dunn.
Kenya Covarrubias, RPh, PharmD, a 2020 CHSU College of Pharmacy alumni and scholarship recipient, explained how her pharmacy career is breaking the cultural and language barriers for the Spanish-speaking community that raised her when she was a 16-year-old immigrant who didn’t speak English. As a clinical pharmacist, she feels rewarded by improving health benefits for Central Valley patients through advancing services and attaining grant programs partnered with national agencies. Dr. Covarrubias praises her pharmacy alumni peers who continue to fulfill the CHSU mission of addressing the medical professional deficit by serving at local medical clinics, hospitals, and pharmacies.
Ranvir Singh Johal, a now second-year medical student at the CHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine and first-generation Punjabi-American, spoke about how his scholarship helped him fulfill his passion to attend the novel medical school in the same community he grew up in. Coming from a family of generational farmers, the scholarship helped alleviate Ranvir’s financial burden of medical school. He appreciates the opportunity to become a physician and plans to give back to his local support system and bridge the generational gap in the health system.
Kenya Covarrubias, PharmD
Hear from College of Pharmacy graduate, Dr. Kenya Covarrubias about how CHSU helped her achieve her goal of becoming a pharmacy leader in the Central Valley.
Ranvir Johal, OMS-II
Hear how receiving a scholarship is helping Ranvir Johal, second year CHSU medical student, pursue his goal of becoming a physician that will serve the Central Valley.
Three other CHSU alumni and/or scholarship recipients were in attendance and met with donors and guests to share their stories. Thank you to Thor Enggaard, RPh, PharmD; Francis Reyes, PharmD; and second-year medical student Mariela Mendoza; for their participation in the scholarship gala.
This successful event would not have been possible without the support of our generous sponsors and donors, who are giving hope to deserving students and empower them to follow their dreams to serve our vastly underserved community.
Learn more about how you can support CHSU student scholarships at chsu.edu/giving For a list of this year’s sponsors, please visit chsu.edu/2023-scholarship-gala.