Courtney VanOphem, a fourth-year student at Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM), has been named the recipient of the prestigious 2024 Edward & Joanne Loniewski Merit Scholarship, awarded by the American Osteopathic Foundation (AOF).
This competitive scholarship awards $5,000 to an osteopathic medical student in recognition of academic excellence, leadership, and commitment to service while also demonstrating financial need.
The Edward & Joanne Loniewski Merit Scholarship was established to support osteopathic medical students who have graduated from a Michigan high school, connecting their academic achievements with their home state. VanOphem is originally from Michigan and has excelled in her studies at LMU-DCOM. She is passionate about giving back to both her home community and underserved populations in Appalachia.
"I am incredibly grateful to be receiving this award!" she said. "Moving from Michigan to Tennessee for medical school was a large jump but was the best choice of my life. With all I have learned these past 3 years, I am excited to (hopefully) return home for residency and continue to become a well-rounded physician serving my home community. Eventually, I hope to return to the Appalachian region, a place I now call home, to serve the underserved."
The scholarship will support VanOphem as she continues her medical education and plans to serve both her home state and the Appalachian region as a dedicated osteopathic physician.
The DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine is located on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee, and at LMU-Knoxville in Knoxville, Tennessee. LMU-DCOM is an integral part of LMU’s values-based learning community and is dedicated to preparing the next generation of osteopathic physicians to provide health care in the often-underserved region of Appalachia and beyond. For more information about LMU-DCOM, call 1.800.325.0900, ext. 7082, email dcom@LMUnet.edu, or visit us online at http://med.LMUnet.edu.
