HCA Florida Brandon Hospital recognized seven high school seniors from across Hillsborough County with college scholarships totaling $45,000. Five students received the HCA Florida Brandon Hospital Healthcare Achievement Award worth $1,000 each, and two students received the HCA Florida Brandon Hospital and Physicians Healthcare Scholars Award worth $20,000 each. Students from approximately 30 public and private high schools, as well as home-schooled students, were considered.
“Each of these students shared their personal ‘why’ behind choosing healthcare as a future profession,” said Dr. Anthony Furiato, emergency room physician at HCA Florida Brandon Hospital. “Their dedication, hard work and diverse career goals will enrich the healthcare community. Some are inspired by loved ones who received life-changing care, while others are drawn to specialties such as anesthesiology, occupational therapy and cancer treatment. HCA Florida Brandon Hospital and our medical staff are proud to collaborate in recognizing this outstanding group of future healthcare leaders.”
HCA Florida Brandon Hospital and Physicians Healthcare Scholars Award
The HCA Florida Brandon Hospital and Physicians Healthcare Scholars Award is a highly competitive $20,000 scholarship jointly funded by HCA Florida Brandon Hospital and its medical staff. Recipients must plan to attend the University of South Florida.
Recipients
- Bloomingdale High School: Madeline Estabrook
- Middleton High School: Aditi Menon
Hospital leaders will present the award to Estabrook and Menon during their respective school awards ceremonies.
Menon is a student leader who serves as president of the Theater Club, vice president of Show Choir and captain of the Math Bowl Team. She also advocates for greater awareness of social anxiety disorder and improved access to mental health resources.
Estabrook plans to pursue a career in pediatric oncology and hematology. She has volunteered at the Children’s Cancer Center in Tampa since age 12 and has completed nearly 300 volunteer hours. She plans to study biomedical sciences.
HCA Florida Brandon Hospital Healthcare Achievement Award
The HCA Florida Brandon Hospital Healthcare Achievement Award recognizes students for strong academic performance, extracurricular involvement and a demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in healthcare. Each recipient received a $1,000 scholarship.
Recipients
- Brandon High School: Shayla Commons
- Lennard High School: Izabel Wiltz
- Newsome High School: Emma Kasting
- Riverview High School: Claudia Maguire and Bradon Martis
Members of the HCA Florida Brandon Hospital leadership team will present the Healthcare Achievement Awards to each student.
All scholarship recipients submitted essays describing how they hope to make a difference through a career in healthcare. Leaders and physicians at HCA Florida Brandon Hospital reviewed hundreds of applications and were inspired by how closely the students’ goals align with HCA Healthcare values and its mission statement: Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life.