We were thrilled to hear from Emma, one of our 2022 Health Scholarship recipients, whose dedication to rural healthcare is truly inspiring. Keep up the amazing work, Emma!

Dear WNC Bridge Foundation,

I am Emma Grindstaff, a 2022 WNC Bridge Foundation Health Scholarship recipient. I graduated from Hayesville High School in Clay County, and rural healthcare has always been a top priority for me. Thanks to the generous support of WNC Bridge Foundation, I have been able to focus my efforts on becoming part of the solution to the healthcare challenges facing rural communities.

I am currently a Junior at North Carolina State University, where I have immersed myself in a variety of experiences both inside and outside the classroom. I have taken on an internship with the nutrition department in our athletic program, where I work alongside highly regarded dieticians to assist the Football team with their nutritional needs. In addition to this, I serve as a Direct Support Professional for Abound Health, where I help a client with Down syndrome develop independent life skills in pursuit of greater autonomy. I am also involved in a collaborative research lab between NC State and UNC Chapel Hill, where we focus on modeling human injury and disease to advance therapeutic solutions for pain management and mobility limitations.

As I approach the spring semester of my junior year, I am preparing to apply to medical school, with the ultimate goal of becoming a board-certified physician. My ambition is to return to rural North Carolina and provide healthcare services to communities that often lack access to the care they need. My volunteer work with the Clay County Health Department and the shadowing experiences I have had with local physicians and Nurse Practitioners have further solidified my commitment to serving these underserved areas.

None of this would have been possible without the foundation of support I’ve received from my rural community, especially WNC Bridge Foundation. Your scholarship has played a pivotal role in helping me realize and achieve my academic and career goals. I am profoundly grateful for the opportunities it has opened for me, and I remain committed to making a positive impact in rural healthcare.

As I continue my journey, I am driven by the desire to not only become a physician but also to be an advocate for rural healthcare and work towards creating sustainable solutions for the communities that have shaped me. Thank you again for your investment in my future. I look forward to making you proud as I pursue my education and, ultimately, my career.

Sincerely, 

Emma