WHEELING, W.Va. (WVDN) – The Health Plan (THP) has opened its medical scholarship program to students at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM).
Since 2009, The Health Plan Scholarship program has provided over $3 million in scholarships to more than 50 medical and nursing students who intend to stay and practice in the state of West Virginia.
Recently, Jeff Knight, president and CEO of THP, and James W. Nemitz, Ph.D., president of WVSOM, celebrated the osteopathic medical school’s inclusion in the need-based scholarship program, which is also available to medical and nursing students at West Virginia University and Marshall University.
Knight said including WVSOM builds on THP’s efforts to support the medical community.
“The health care staffing shortage continues to be a significant issue in West Virginia. The Health Plan is committed to supporting our state’s health care workforce, and we’re thrilled to team up with WVSOM to offer our scholarship program to its students. WVSOM does amazing work in both educating our future providers and advocating for health care initiatives important to all West Virginians. We’re proud to be partners,” Knight said.
Nemitz thanked Knight and The Health Plan for offering the scholarship program at WVSOM, which educates an average of nearly 800 medical students each year. According to the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, the school is No. 1 in producing physicians who practice in West Virginia, with 40% of the state’s physicians being WVSOM graduates.
“WVSOM is very appreciative that The Health Plan has included osteopathic medical students in its scholarship program. Medical school is not inexpensive. This scholarship, by financially assisting recipients who want to stay in West Virginia, benefits not only our students but the state. The Health Plan shows its commitment to the health and well-being of the communities it serves through its products and services and by supporting health care professionals, medical education and healthy-living initiatives. The program is a tremendous opportunity for WVSOM students,” Nemitz said.
With this new opportunity, WVSOM students were able to apply in the final month of the 2024-25 scholarship cycle and will be eligible for the full 2025-26 period. The scholarship pays for tuition and fees at the school’s in-state rate and can be renewed for up to four years.
About The Health Plan
The Health Plan is a West Virginia-based nonprofit health maintenance organization that manages and improves the health and well-being of its members. Established in 1979, The Health Plan offers a complete line of managed care products and services designed to provide healthcare systems and clients with innovative healthcare benefits and plans at a reasonable cost. Visit THP at healthplan.org.
About the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
WVSOM is a national leader in educating osteopathic physicians for primary care medicine in rural areas. The school is based in Lewisburg, W.Va., with a Statewide Campus system consisting of seven regions across West Virginia. Visit WVSOM online at www.wvsom.edu.
