[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 8854-8855]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      IN RECOGNITION OF THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED HEALTH 
                FOUNDATION'S DIVERSE SCHOLARS INITIATIVE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TIMOTHY J. WALZ

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 7, 2017

  Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, continuing to modernize the health care system 
requires improving the quality and delivery of health care, the 
backbone of which is our health workforce. I am proud to have the 
opportunity today to talk about a group of promising students from 
around the country. This year's United Health Foundation Diverse 
Scholars Initiative scholarship recipients represent 36 states, and 
they are some of the brightest individuals preparing to enter the 
health workforce.
  They are working hard in their undergraduate, graduate and doctorate 
programs--whether they are studying to be physicians, nurses, dentists, 
or mental health providers--to increase the number of skilled 
professionals entering the health workforce. This is key to

[[Page 8855]]

the future of our nation's health: we need a robust health care 
workforce in order to increase access to care in rural areas and across 
the nation.
  Beyond their academic achievements, I would also like to recognize 
their commitment to making the health care system more culturally 
relevant and their dedication to improving the health outcomes of the 
individuals they will one day serve. Research shows that when people 
are treated by health professionals who share their language, culture, 
or ethnicity, they are more likely to accept and receive medical 
treatment. That is why these students will be a great asset to our 
nation's health care system.
  Next week, these scholars will be joining us in Washington, D.C. to 
examine some of the nation's most urgent health care issues and 
potential solutions as part of the Diverse Scholars Forum. Celebrating 
its 10th anniversary this year, the United Health Foundation's Diverse 
Scholars Initiative has helped more than 2,000 multicultural students 
from across the country realize their dreams of pursuing careers in 
health while meeting the needs of local and underserved communities. 
This year, these scholars include a group of military spouses pursuing 
health careers who have received scholarships, and I would like to 
recognize their commitment to becoming part of the future health 
workforce and for their sacrifices and service to our nation.
  To these exceptional scholars, congratulations and best wishes for 
success in all of your future endeavors. As a teacher, I'm proud to 
know that we have scholars like you who are ready to lead us into a new 
era of better and more efficient health care. I know that our nation's 
health care system will benefit from your hard work and talent.
  Aviva Aguilar, Fatima Ahmad, Maria Alfaro, Sainfer Aliyu, Cesar 
Andrade, Austere Apolo, Shantrice Appleby, Janetci Arevalo, Melissa 
Avila, Kwame Awuku, Kane Banner, Cristina Batarse, Simone Batiste, 
Shanell Becenti, Asma Begum, Ashleigh Bennett, Michael Bervell, Carlene 
Black, Ashley Blackwell, Ruth Campos, Girah Caraballo, Suzanne 
Carvajal-Pinos, Danelle Cooper, Radha Dahal, Ana Maria De Leon, 
Angelica Duque, Marissa Emadi, Rebecca Espinoza, Gerardo Flores, 
Clarissa Flores, Itzel Garcia Vasquez, Raffaella Garofanelli, Jeremy 
Garriga, Jashalynn German, Claudio Gonzalez, Paula-Ann Granston, Katie 
Haynes, Ray Hill, Shakura Howard, Wesley Hungbui, Ronald Ikech, Jalane 
Jara, Karianne Jones, Ramanjot Kaur, Leslie Kedelty, Cleo Klopfleisch, 
Vin Lay, Than Le, Amy Liang, Christine Loftis, Dylan Lopez, Quentin 
Loyd, Mabel Luo, Andrew Ly, Maria Madrigal, Alexann Masiko-Meyer, 
Beverley Mateo, Karen Mendez, Justin Mollison, Kimberley Mondestin, 
Christian Monsalve, Maria Moreno Valencia, Krista Morine, Egypt 
Muhammad, Marilyn Ndukwe, Ronke Olowojesiku, Chiemeka Onyima, Victoria 
Ordaz-Garcia, Laura Sofia Ortega Flores, Angelika Pasion, Sylvia Pena, 
Laura Penalo, Joshua Platero, Anna Quintanilla, Alejandro Rabionet, 
Grace Ramirez, Caesar Rangel, Kimyetta Robinson, Franklyn Rocha 
Cabrero, Victoria Rodriguez, Nancy Roque, Giovanni Rosas Escobedo, Leah 
Ruiz, Valeria Salazar Balli, Kelly Sanchez, Mariah Smith, Alcha Strane, 
Maylei Suen, Brenda Talamantes, Lisa Tu, Ifeanyi Uche, Best Uchehara, 
Madelyne Valdez, Jennifer Villalobos, Sebastian Villegas, Joaquin 
Villegas, Craig Washington, Veronica Williams, Davontae Willis, Bethany 
Womack, Chaoyan Yu, Ashley Zapata.

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