ST. MARYS — The JTD Hospital Foundation and the JTDMH medical staff have announced that Lillian White and Mitchell Weeman are the recipients of the 2019 JTDMH Medical Staff Scholarship. Both White and Weeman express an interest in rural health and providing medical care at a community hospital.

White, of New Carlisle, was awarded a $2,000 scholarship to further her studies at the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine for the 2019-2020 school years. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Heidelberg University.

White would like to practice as a family practice physician. She was the chair and co-founder of Open Arms Clinic Student Board, which involved student-led, health-oriented sessions for patients at a local free clinic. She is also the president and co-founder of Project Wellness.

Weeman, of Kidron, was also awarded a $2,000 scholarship to further his studies at the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine for the 2019-2020 school years. He graduated from The Ohio State University with a biology degree, pre-medicine.

Weeman volunteered in a pulmonary/sleep lab with a local physician in his hometown after his first year of medical school, and enjoyed working in the rural location. He also volunteered on a medical mission trip to Jamaica. Weeman and other trip participants brought supplies and medications to clinics serving up to 100 people per day. Most of these facilities had no electricity.

The Foundation is an affiliate of Grand Lake Health System and has awarded over $240,000 in scholarships to area students perusing their education in medicine, nursing or other allied healthcare fields.

“Scholarships are one of the most important programs the Foundation provides as we invest into the health care professionals needed to care for our community,” said Linda Haines, executive director. “We look forward to the possibility of these scholarship recipients returning to our area.”