As college and high school students settle into their new routine of waking up early and staying up late to do homework, one student is already under way with medical school, with the help of generous donors and WellSpan Health.
Meet Andrew Rheam, one of the WellSpan Future Physician Scholarship recipients.
After graduating from Chambersburg High School, Andrew started medical school in July at Liberty University in Virginia. He is excited to meet new people and learn alongside his 150 classmates.
“It’s really important to me to stay positive and remain grateful for everything I learn throughout school,” he said. “I want to take care of myself, enjoy every moment, and remember why I wanted to pursue this career in the first place. It’s an honor to become a physician.”
The WellSpan Future Physician Scholarship is awarded to current or future medical school students in the WellSpan region. To ensure local communities access exceptional care, WellSpan awards this scholarship to fund the cost of medical school. Upon graduating, students commit to working at a WellSpan site near their hometown.
“I think it’s important for patients to know that their provider is local and familiar with the area,” Rheam said. “I grew up here and it will mean a lot to give back to people I’ve known my whole life. People are going to rely on me to be knowledgeable when they seek care and I’m really happy to help as many people as I can.”
Volunteering and shadowing
Rheam became interested in a career in medicine by shadowing and volunteering at WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital.
“I love learning as much as I can about health care,” Rheam said. “I’m glad I started as a volunteer because I’ve been able to experience so much. At the beginning of my time in the hospital, I was limited to what I could help with and now I’m making my way up to physician. So, I can appreciate every step in between and how I got there.”
He even taught himself something new – how to crotchet blankets for patients – during the COVID-19 pandemic when he couldn’t enter the hospital.
Rheam is still somewhat open about what medicine he wants to study. He has always liked anesthesiology, and he’s leaning in that direction. After watching anesthesiologists during his college years at Shippensburg University, he knew how important their work was.
“I have so much respect for all that they do behind the scenes,” Rheam explained. “They are heavily relied upon, and I know that my work will be an important part of the process for patients in our care.”
Community impact
Created in 2009, the WellSpan Future Physician Scholarship has produced 12 providers on the WellSpan team. Thirteen recipients are in a residency or fellowship and seven are in medical school, including Andrew.
Tammie Chute, manager of physician and advanced practice provider recruitment, and Tammie Oakes lead the program at WellSpan. They love to see WellSpan award scholarships to students like Rheam.
“This can be a seven- to 10-year process for the students, and we get to sit alongside them through their medical school and residency/fellowship journey. We see life changes and watch as new passions develop while pursuing their dream of becoming a physician,” Chute said. “It’s very special to witness.”
She strongly believes that the scholarship has impacted the recruitment and retention of physicians locally. “These students want to return to their communities and serve the patients who impacted them while growing up,” Chute said. “They want to give back.”
When Rheam graduates, he will join a member of his family who already is on the WellSpan team. Andrew’s mother, Dawn Rheam, is also a nurse practitioner at WellSpan Family Medicine in Franklin County.
“I’ve learned so much and I’m honestly just getting started,” Rheam said. “WellSpan is investing in me and putting so much trust in my abilities, and I can’t express how much this means. I want to thank them for supporting me, and I can’t wait to learn even more through this amazing opportunity they’ve given me.” You can support the future generation of physicians like Rheam by donating today.
