The Health Professional Student Association (HPSA), which runs the Student Doctor Network (SDN), is proud to announce the two recipients of the 2026 SDN Prehealth Scholarship. Each awardee receives $2,500 to help offset authorized expenses associated with applying to a doctoral-level health program.
Asia Thompson – North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University
Degree Goal: DDS/DMD
As a future dentist, Ms. Thompson understands the structural barriers her patients face and plans to work to address them clinically and within the community. “I have a strong commitment to improving
oral health access in rural areas and emphasizing that growth must be matched with equitable
resources,” she said.
Kaelyn Belton – California State University, Sacramento
Degree Goal: MD/DO
Ms. Belton grew up in a rural community in California’s Central Valley and experienced first-hand the barriers to receiving care. “My plan is to return as a provider who works with local nonprofits like Cultiva Central Valley for outreach, chronic disease education, and culturally grounded care,” she said.
“Supporting a second group of prehealth students through this scholarship has been one of the most rewarding parts of our work this year,” said Laura Turner, Executive Director of HPSA. “Through the SDN Forums community, we hear constantly about the demands of the application process, not only the hard work of crafting a compelling application, but the significant financial burden that comes with it. Easing that burden is exactly why we continue this program.”
The SDN Prehealth Scholarship supports prehealth students from under-resourced backgrounds who are committed to serving their home communities as doctoral-level health professionals. Applications for the 2027 cycle open later this year.
Support the SDN Prehealth Scholarship
Every award is made possible by donors who believe that the cost of applying should not decide who becomes a health professional. The SDN Prehealth Scholarship is funded entirely through community contributions, and each $2,500 award represents a direct investment in a student’s path to a doctoral health program. HPSA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
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