Elevance Health-Sponsored Scholarships Encourage Health Professionals to Practice in Rural and Under-Resourced Areas

Alexis McWhorter grew up in London, Kentucky, a city of about 8,000 people in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Eager to give back to the town she says “lovingly” raised her, McWhorter became a family nurse practitioner after earning her degree from Eastern Kentucky University.

“I love building personal therapeutic relationships with my patients and seeing their health improve,” she said. “I think if you are a provider who is invested in your patients’ health, your patients will be more motivated to also invest in themselves.”

McWhorter received one of more than 100 health professional scholarships sponsored by Elevance Health-affiliated plans and awarded in 17 states and the District of Columbia* since 2017. The scholarships – totaling more than $9 million so far – intend to alleviate the shortage of healthcare providers in rural and other under-resourced communities.
 

Scholarships Support Students Pursuing Careers as Health Professionals

Scholarship recipients pursue careers as primary care physicians, mental health and substance use disorder providers, certified nurse midwives, social workers and more. Typical arrangements require recipients to agree to work in a rural or under-resourced community for two or three years after they graduate.

“I always knew I wanted to be in a career where I could become a servant leader to positively impact the health of those around me,” McWhorter said. “I truly feel invested in their care and health and want to inspire them to become invested in their health as well.”

As a family nurse practitioner (FNP), which is a specific type of advanced practice registered nurse, McWhorter specializes in providing continuous and comprehensive healthcare to people of all ages. FNPs perform physical exams, order diagnostic tests, prescribe medications, treat injuries, and help to prevent and manage chronic illnesses.

The scholarships cover tuition and expenses, and in some instances, may be used to cover other costs that could be barriers to furthering education such as childcare or rent.

“These scholarships present opportunities to people who may not have them otherwise,” McWhorter said. “Especially being grown by the Appalachian community myself, I think it is safe to say that many people in our community do not have the financial resources to pursue higher education.”
 

Health Professionals Practicing in Rural Areas Improve Access to Care

With higher levels of poverty and food insecurity, people living in rural areas experience barriers to health that can lead to higher rates of chronic health conditions, like diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, and heart disease. Most of Kentucky’s 120 counties are designated as health professional shortage areas, where people have to travel long distances to get care.

“My family members traveled more than an hour for appointments to see specialists,” McWhorter said. Her grandfather’s black lung disease eventually developed into lung cancer.  Traveling long distances with that kind of illness “can cause a lot of stress for a patient who is already going through so much.”

McWhorter notes that social drivers of health – such as unreliable transportation – are often a significant barrier to care in rural areas.

“That can really impact someone’s ability to function with work, school, and home as well as attend routine health appointments or routine screenings. In my opinion, that alone makes it even more important to extend our work in rural areas,” McWhorter said.  

Scholarships are offered to students who aspire to practice medicine in rural, frontier, and other under-resourced communities.

“Together with our affiliated health plans, Elevance Health earnestly funds these scholarships to help address nationwide care provider shortages and improve access to healthcare for everyone,” said Elevance Health Chief Health Officer Shantanu Agrawal.

*As of 2025, scholarships have been awarded to recipients in California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.