The National Health Service Corps program assisted me in my medical school education at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, MO. I subsequently paid back my assistance by working at a federally qualified health center in rural Lee County, AR. I stayed past my payback time to continue to practice family medicine as an employee with Webber Family Practice, Webber Medical Complex, a hospice medical director for a number of years, and medical director of Crestpark of Marianna, a local nursing home.
All this enabled me and four kids—my daughter subsequently got her R.N. and works at Crestpark of Marianna, and my eldest son is now finishing up his nursing studies at Jonesboro University of Arkansas. YES, the NHSC was definitely worth it, and enabled me to stay in an underserved area in which I still work part-time at the age of 72!
Dr. Susan W. Balke, DO
Tell Us Your Health Center’s NHSC Impact Story
Help us emphasize to Congress the impact of the NHSC on the lives of individuals and families living in medically underserved communities. Please share with us how important the NHSC is to your health center and the implications of funding cuts from a full-year CR by emailing ACU’s Deputy Director of Policy and Advocacy Jordan Marshall. We need your help informing Congress how vital the NHSC is for providing healthcare access to their constituents! Congress must stay focused on passing a bipartisan spending agreement by Jan. 19.
Stay tuned for further updates, become an ACU Advocate, and encourage all of your colleagues to do so as well.
Jordan Marshall, Your ACU Advocacy Contact
Jordan Marshall is leading ACU’s grassroots advocacy to secure long-term funding for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). Contact Jordan with any questions regarding policy analysis or if ACU can be of assistance with your own organizational or individual advocacy.
