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The Chester Scholars Program at MetroHealth provides an immersive summer experience for undergraduate students aspiring for careers in healthcare, bridging the gap between classroom learning and the realities of medicine. The program, which honours pioneer in ambulatory medical education Edward Chester, MD, provides students with opportunities in clinical research, physician shadowing, and professional mentorship. Students have described the program as transformative, helping them discover new interests, deepen their understanding of patient care, and build confidence in their future career steps.
Empowering Aspiring Healthcare Professionals: The Chester Scholars Program at MetroHealth
For years, Cassandra “Kandi” White, the Administrative/Academic Coordinator for Neonatology at MetroHealth, has been part of the transformative journey of countless health and medical students through the Chester Scholars Program. This program goes beyond offering financial stipends; it motivates students to achieve their academic and personal aspirations.
The program bridges the gap between theoretical learning and practical medicine for undergraduates eyeing careers in healthcare. Established in 1981 to celebrate pioneer Edward Chester, MD, the program provides students with a rich summer experience of clinical research, physician shadowing, and professional mentorship. This is funded by the Chester Scholars Endowment.
Students from the 2026 cohort, regardless of their career paths, found the program to be transformative. Whether they discovered new interests or deepened their understanding of patient care, all of them describe the program as a milestone in their healthcare journey.
Exploring Maternal-Fetal Medicine: The Journey of Hansika Kunduru
Hansika Kunduru, a rising junior at Case Western Reserve University, joined the Chester Scholars Program with a keen interest in healthcare and clinical research. With a love for math and science, she found clinical research appealing because it transforms data into tangible patient outcomes. During her journey with the program, she discovered an unexpected interest in maternal-fetal medicine and obstetrics research, which she now sees as a potential future specialty.
Thanks to the Chester Scholars Program, Hansika had a chance to present her work at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Annual Meeting in 2026 and secured an internship at Case Western Reserve University’s Department of Nutrition. The program’s networking and shadowing opportunities were invaluable, and her time spent in MetroHealth’s Emergency Department broadened her understanding of healthcare access and the challenges faced by public safety-net health system patients.
Seeing Medicine Through a Human Lens: Piyush Chitnis
For Piyush Chitnis, a junior at Ohio State University, the Chester Scholars Program confirmed his goal to attend medical school. His research concentrated on infants with impaired bone health in MetroHealth’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. He believes the most important lesson he learned was recognizing the people behind the data he studied. The program solidified his commitment to medicine, confirmed his plan to specialize in surgery, and care for adult patients, and revealed the value of wide exposure to physicians in multiple specialties.
The Rest of the Chester Scholars Journey
From Gloria Price, a senior at the University of Akron who discovered her calling to be a neonatologist during her Chester Scholars experience, to Melissa Rothschild, a senior at Elon University who plans to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology, the program has been instrumental in shaping the futures of its participants.
Others like Akhil Datla, a junior at Case Western Reserve University, and Emma Jirathearanat, a junior at The Ohio State University, found through the Chester Scholars Program a level of immersion they never expected, which confirmed and reinforced their dreams of pursuing healthcare careers.
Supporting the Future of Healthcare
Since its inception, the Chester Scholars Program has supported more than 600 students, many of whom have become successful physicians, researchers, and healthcare leaders. Thanks to the Chester Scholars Endowment, future generations will continue to receive the same opportunity to not only learn about healthcare, but to envision themselves within it.
To support the Chester Scholars Endowment, contact Caleb Sturrup, Philanthropy Officer of The MetroHealth Foundation, at 440-592-1434 or email csturrup@metrohealth.org. You can also make an online gift here.
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