Three graduates of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine-Bowling Green Campus have been named the inaugural recipients of medical school loan forgiveness scholarships from the Med Center Health Foundation. Darrin Laswell, M.D.'23, Dixi Secula, M.D. '22, and Ethan Smith, M.D. '23, received the inaugural scholarships.
Funded through the generosity of Med Center Health donors, the scholarships recognize the importance of investing in the next generation of physicians and strengthening access to care across the region. By helping graduates manage educational debt, the program aims to support physician retention and encourage talented health care professionals to build their careers in the communities that need them most.
The scholarship programs were designed to help reduce the financial burden of medical education while supporting physicians who choose to practice and serve patients in south-central Kentucky.
According to Med Center Health Foundation, the scholarships are the first of their kind through the organization and reflect a shared commitment to addressing physician workforce needs across the region.
Laswell, Secula and Smith represent a growing network of UK College of Medicine-Bowling Green Campus alumni who are helping strengthen access to care in Kentucky. Their selection as the inaugural recipients underscores the value of investing in future physicians and creating pathways for graduates to build their careers in the communities that need them most.