SIDNEY — Wilson Health recently announced that Alexandra “Allie” Wenig, of Anna, is the recipient of the ninth annual Physician Memorial Scholarship

Established following the death of Dr. Bruce C. Urbanc in 2008, the scholarship is a joint effort of the Wilson Memorial Hospital medical staff and the hospital. The scholarship is awarded to a student who is enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a fully accredited school of medicine or osteopathic medicine in the continental United States. The student must be a Shelby County high school graduate.

“We recently awarded $2,000 to Allie to assist on her journey through medical school,” said Dr. Frederick Simpson, chief medical officer at Wilson Health. Members of Wilson’s Medical Staff Executive Committee were charged with making the final selection.

Wenig is in her second year of medical school at the University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Science in Toledo. She received her undergraduate degree in biochemistry from Bowling Green State University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and with university honors.

“Growing up with a mother living with multiple sclerosis, I saw the hardships of disease firsthand,” said Wenig. “I suppose it was in those moments that a fire was lit in me. I watched with amazement as medicine brought hope into our world as a family. My mother, who had once been hindered by disease, was now travelling the country as a consultant and living her life to the fullest.”

While at BGSU, Wenig met her best friend, who suffered from restrictive cardiomyopathy and eventually received a heart transplant. It was another life-changing experience that left Wenig eager to learn all there was to know about the transplant, which led to a summer research project with the heart transplant team at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

“Medicine truly amazes me,” said Wenig. “It gave life back to two of the people I love most dearly. I can think of nothing I would rather do than spend my life finding ways to bring hope to people like my mom and my friend.”

For information about the scholarship program, visit www.wilsonhealth.org. For information on how to make a donation to the Physician Memorial Scholarship Fund, call 498-5335 or mail a donation to Wilson Health, Attn: Medical Staff Office, 915 W. Michigan St., Sidney, OH 45365. Make checks payable to Wilson Health Hospital Medical Staff. All donations are tax deductible.