Skip to main
University-wide Navigation

MHA Scholarship Opportunities

Please Note: Each Scholarship has specific criteria and application requirements – read carefully for timing and specific materials needed. Not providing the requested materials or missing timelines might make you ineligible to receive a scholarship.

Questions after you have read the material: email the Health Management and Policy Office Manager at megan.hannah@uky.edu.

Norton Scholarship for Healthcare Leaders Scholarship and Summer Paid Internship (Generally, $2,500 per semester - 2nd year, Fall and Spring)

Norton Healthcare sponsors the Norton Scholarship for Healthcare Leadership in the University of Kentucky College of Public Health’s Master of Health Administration (MHA) program. This prestigious award includes a financial scholarship and a paid internship experience at Norton Healthcare in Louisville, Kentucky. Norton Healthcare has generously supported healthcare leadership development for over 10 years at the UK MHA Program.

Norton Healthcare is a leader in serving adult and pediatric patients from throughout Greater Louisville, Southern Indiana, the commonwealth of Kentucky, and beyond.

The not-for-profit hospital and health care system is Louisville’s second largest employer, with more than 18,000 employees, over 1,700 employed medical providers, and approximately 2,000 total physicians on its medical staff. The system includes six hospitals (five in Louisville and one in Madison, Indiana) with 1,993 licensed beds, eight outpatient centers, 18 Norton Immediate Care Centers, eight Norton Prompt Care at Walgreens clinics, and an expanded telehealth program. It provides care at more than 340 locations throughout Kentucky and Southern Indiana. The hospitals provide inpatient and outpatient general care as well as specialty care including heart, neuroscience, cancer, orthopedic, women’s, and pediatric services. A strong research program provides access to clinical trials in a multitude of areas.

In 2021 Norton Healthcare was named by Healthiest Employers as the 10th healthiest place to work in the country and has twice been awarded an honorable mention for the C. Everett Koop National Health Awards. In 2020 Norton Healthcare’s five Louisville hospitals and Norton Cancer Institute were named LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leaders by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, earning a top score of 100 on the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) for the third year in a row. (source: https://nortonhealthcare.com/about-us/)

Criteria for Awarding the Summer Internship and Scholarship

  • Undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or greater
  • Student in good standing
  • Enrolled full-time or part-time
  • Strong potential for healthcare leadership.  This is assessed by:
    • Letters of recommendation in the student’s MHA application
    • Previous leadership experience as indicated in the MHA application and resume
    • Essay
      • How would an internship at Norton Healthcare impact their leadership development?
      • How will the student contribute to the program’s interest in diversity?
  • Admission offer and acceptance to the MHA Program
  • Must be enrolled full-time
  • Non-renewable

The MHA Program Director along with senior faculty member(s) and a prior Norton Scholar will interview finalists for this award.  This team will review the criteria and the interview responses for each finalist and recommend a recipient to the Health Management and Policy Department Chair. For 2022, the award is given as $2500 for the first semester and the same for the second semester if grades are maintained and the student is in good standing.

The student who is awarded the scholarship will be announced in various College of Public Health communications, the annual awards ceremony, and have a 1:1 with the donors.

Past Norton Scholar Career Placements

  • Chief Business Development Officer
  • Product Manager
  • Chief Executive Officer
  • Corporate Associate Attorney
  • UNC Health in Chapel Hill
  • Manager of the Surgical Services Business Office
  • Manager of Operations and Business Development with Occupational Health
  • Enterprise Strategy, Strategic Planning Coordinator.

Marilyn and Larry Prybil Scholarship: $2,500 (generally $1,250 per semester for two semesters)

Lawrence Prybil received master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Iowa’s College of Medicine and is a Life Fellow in the ACHE. He joined the faculty of the UK College of Public Health in 2010 and retired as the Norton Professor in Healthcare Leadership in 2021. He also is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Iowa where he held leadership roles in the UI College of Public Health for a decade. Dr. Prybil has authored or co-authored 121 publications.

Before returning to the University of Iowa in 1999 to assist in building its new College of Public Health, Dr. Prybil held senior executive positions in two of our nation’s largest nonprofit health systems for twenty years and beginning in 1972 continuously has served on the governing boards of health systems, the American Hospital Association (AHA), and other nonprofit and investor-owned organizations. He and his wife, Marilyn, are deeply committed to graduate education for health management and, for over a decade, have provided scholarship support for highly qualified MHA students in UK’s MHA Program who have special interest in careers in nonprofit multi-unit health systems.

Criteria for Awarding the Scholarship

  • Student is successfully admitted to the MHA Program
  • Undergraduate GPA of 3.3 or greater
  • Student plans to seek a healthcare administration position in a nonprofit multi-unit health system
  • Current Resume/CV
  • Student in good standing
  • Enrolled full-time or part-time>
  • Non-renewable

Scholarship Selection

  • Students who wish to be considered will include this essay with their application within the early decision deadlines.
  • Essay:
    • Lable Essay with PRYBIL SCHOLARSHIP
    • Completion of an essay that articulately describes their “healthcare ethos” or their “why” for choosing nonprofit health systems and how they hope to lead in the future.
  • A selection panel including faculty and alumni will determine two finalists. The Program Director and Chair of the Department of Health Management and Policy will make the final decision. Please do not contact the donors during the selection process.
  • The student who is awarded the scholarship will be announced in various College of Public Health communications, the annual awards ceremony, and have a 1:1 with the donors.

Sean and Amy Patterson Family Scholarship - $2,000 (generally, $1,000 per semester for two semesters)

The Patterson Family Scholarship is provided as a generous gift from Sean and Amy Patterson. Sean Patterson is a 2011 graduate of the University of Kentucky MHA program. Mr. Patterson began his healthcare career as a medical support assistant, a policy intern, and the President of the Kentucky Healthcare Leadership Development Organization. After his graduation from the MHA program, he joined St. Mary’s Health System, in Indiana, as an administrative fellow. After completing his fellowship, he joined HCA Healthcare and has held a series of leadership positions including his current role as Chief Operating Officer in Salt Lake City Utah. The Patterson’s generous gift will support an incoming student to develop the skills necessary to become an innovative and caring healthcare leader.

Criteria for Awarding the Scholarship

  • Student is successfully admitted to the MHA Program
  • Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or greater
  • Student plans to seek a healthcare administration position in a hospital or health system
  • Current Resume/CV
  • Student in good standing
  • Enrolled full-time or part-time
  • Non-renewable

Scholarship Selection

  • Students who wish to be considered will include this essay with their application within the early decision deadlines.
  • Essay:
    • Label essay with PATTERSON SCHOLARSHIP
    • Completion of an essay that articulately describes how they will apply the skills developed in the MHA in a hospital/health system administrator role.
  • A selection panel including the Program Director, faculty, and alumni will determine two finalists. The Patterson’s will make the final decision. Please do not contact the donors during the selection process.
  • The student who is awarded the scholarship will be announced in various College of Public Health communications, the annual awards ceremony, and have a 1:1 with Mr. Patterson.

Additional Non-College of Public Health Scholarships*

*Opportunities may vary year to year.

Kentucky ACHE (American College of Healthcare Executives)

The state ACHE chapter often provides Kentucky MHA Programs with funds to support deserving students who attend the Annual ACHE Congress in Chicago Illinois. Funds vary year to year but can be used to offset travel.

Students who receive the funds must also apply to volunteer at the congress. If accepted as a volunteer the registration costs are waived.

Criteria for Awarding the Scholarship

  • GPA of 3.0 or greater
  • Student in good standing
  • Enrolled full-time or part-time
  • Non-renewable – students typically can only receive this scholarship once while in the program

Scholarship Selection

  • Students who wish to be considered will complete the following:
    • Email the Program Director with their intent
    • Include the following in the email:
      • Copy of the ACHE volunteer application
      • Action plan including timeline and details on how they will bring back the information shared at ACHE. Sharing must occur in the semester they attended.
      • 150-word essay on how attending ACHE will impact their competency development
  • A selection panel including faculty and alumni will determine the recipients.
  • Please do not contact KY ACHE as these scholarship dollars are distributed by the MHA Program

The student(s) who is awarded the scholarship will be announced in various College of Public Health communications and at the annual awards ceremony.

AUPHA The Foster G. McGaw Scholarship $1,000 (typically but not guaranteed)

The Foster G. McGraw scholarship provides financial support to undergraduate and graduate students in health administration. Scholarship funds are awarded each year to all AUPHA full graduate and undergraduate programs. The faculty within these programs disperse these monies at their discretion to students most deserving of recognition.

More than 3,000 scholarships have been awarded since the program was established in 1975. The scholarship was endowed by Foster G. McGaw, founder of the American Hospital Supply Corporation. McGaw recognized the importance of health administration education and AUPHA’s contribution to the field.

Criteria for Awarding the Scholarship

  • Student is successfully admitted to the MHA Program
  • Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or greater
  • Current Resume/CV
  • Student in good standing
  • Enrolled full-time or part-time
  • Non-renewable

Scholarship Selection

  • Students who wish to be considered will include this essay with their application within the early decision deadlines.
  • Essay:
    • Label essay FOSTER MCGAW SCHOLARSHIP
    • Completion of an essay that articulately describes how they have served their communities
  • A selection panel including faculty and alumni will determine the recipients.
  • Please do not contact AUPHA as these scholarship dollars are distributed by the MHA Program
  • The student(s) who is awarded the scholarship will be announced in various College of Public Health communications and at the annual awards ceremony.

The Kentucky Hospital Association Scholarship

Each year the Kentucky Hospital Association generously gifts Kentucky MHA Programs monies to award one scholarship to a deserving student. The Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA), established in 1929, represents hospitals, related health care organizations, and integrated health care systems dedicated to sustaining and improving the health status of the citizens of Kentucky. The mission: The Kentucky Hospital Association will be the leading voice for Kentucky health systems in improving the health of our communities. (Source: https://www.kyha.com/about-kha-3)

Criteria for Awarding the Scholarship

  • GPA of 3.0 or greater
  • Student in good standing
  • Enrolled full-time or part-time
  • Non-renewable
  • Typically announced in early February
  • Volunteer service to campus, community, program
  • NOTE: Students who receive the scholarship must commit to attending the Kentucky ACHE luncheon during the annual conference.

Scholarship Selection

  • Students who have participated in community service as a part of the MHA Student Association are eligible for the scholarship.
  • Students who wish to be considered will complete the following:
    • Email the Program Director with their intent once the announcement is made
    • Include the following in the email:
      • Label Email: KY Hospital Association SCHOLARSHIP
      • 150-word essay on the student's community service while enrolled in the MHA program
  • A selection panel including faculty and alumni will determine the recipients.
  • Please do not contact Kentucky Hospital Association as these scholarship dollars are distributed by the MHA Program
  • The student(s) who is awarded the scholarship will be announced in various College of Public Health communications and at the annual awards ceremony.

CAHME (Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education) Scholarships

For all details related to qualifications, renewability, and more see the CAHME website as UK MHA does not administer these scholarships.

see CAHME.org – Awards/Scholarship for more details

Criteria and Notes:

  • Only one submission per award per CAHME accredited program
  • The awards panel will review applications and determine which student received the MHA Program nomination and will forward the nomination to CAHME
  • Require Program Director nomination. All materials should be submitted to the Program Director 3 weeks prior to the CAHME published due date.
  • CAHME scholarships have specific requirements, and many include community service – consider this early in your MHA career and commit to volunteering.

The CAHME/Dawn Gideon Foundation Scholarship

This award honors Dawn Gideon, who devoted her career to helping healthcare organizations succeed. The scholarship is targeted to supporting women pursuing advanced education in healthcare management and who have demonstrated a commitment to communities in need.

Learn more about the award winners here.

The CAHME/Judy Baar Topinka Foundation Scholarship 

This award for Health Policy is named in memory Judy Baar Topinka, who dedicated herself to a lifetime of public service to the people of the State of Illinois.

Learn more about the award winners here.

The CAHME/Tim Campbell Scholarship 

This award is in memory of Tim Campbell, a CAHME board member who personified a commitment to service and volunteerism. The scholarship is targeted to supporting student leaders who selflessly act to help others in the process of advancing the quality of healthcare. 

Learn more about the award winners here.

AUPHA Scholarship Opportunities

For all details related to qualifications, renewability, and more see the AUPHA website as UK MHA does not administer these scholarships.

https://www.aupha.org/main/resourcecenter/scholarships

The Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) is a global network of colleges, universities, faculty, individuals and organizations dedicated to the improvement of health and healthcare delivery through excellence in healthcare management and policy education. Its mission is to foster excellence and drive innovation in health management and policy education and promote the value of university-based management education for leadership roles in the health sector. It is the only non-profit entity of its kind that works to improve the delivery of health services – and thus the health of citizens – throughout the world by educating professional managers. AUPHA's membership includes the premier baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degree programs in health administration education in the United States, Canada, and around the world. Its faculty and individual members represent more than 300 colleges and universities. 

(Source: https://www.aupha.org/about/visionmissionvalues)

ACHE Albert W. Dent Scholarship

https://www.ache.org/membership/student-resources/albert-w-dent-graduate-student-scholarship

ACHE Foster G. McGaw Scholarship

https://www.ache.org/membership/student-resources/foster-g-mcgaw-graduate-student-scholarship