Thanks to a generous donation, a new bursary will provide funding support for students from the South Okanagan Similkameen going into the medical field.
The Trish and Phil Medical Bursary Fund was established thanks to the support of the local donors, who provided $1 million to the fund.
The Community Foundation of the South Okanagan-Similkameen (CFSOS) will administer bursaries for local students, providing multi-year awards for undergraduate studies and medical school.
“We are deeply grateful for this incredible generosity and also the donors’ vision for this gift,” said Aaron McRann, CFSOS’s CEO. “This bursary is not just a financial aid — it’s an inspiring investment in the future of healthcare in our community. By supporting the next generation of doctors, we are fostering a brighter, healthier future for everyone in the South Okanagan Similkameen.”
The intent of the bursary is to support efforts to address the need for more doctors in the region and to ensure that all residents in the region can have a family doctor.
It also aims to support students who dream of becoming a doctor with life-changing financial support, providing funding of up to half of the costs for undergraduate tuition and up to 100 per cent of the cost of medical school tuition.
“As someone who grew up in Penticton and now has the privilege of practicing family medicine in my hometown, this bursary means so much,” said Dr. Jennifer Begin, board chair of the South Okanagan Similkameen Division of Family Practice. “I knew back when I was at Pen Hi that I wanted to become a doctor, but coming from a family with limited resources made that path challenging. I know how hard that road can be, which is why I think this bursary is so amazing.”
The bursary is open to graduating students or students who have graduated in the past five years from secondary schools in Penticton, Oliver, and Osoyoos, and who are committed to pursuing medical school to become a physician and practice medicine in the South Okanagan and Similkameen once they’ve completed their studies.
Students must register to apply for the bursary, and those who register will also be invited to a virtual information session with a local physician on June 10. Registration can be done online at cfso.net/event/trish-philmedical-bursary-virtual-info-session/
For eligibility and bursary application details, visit cfso.net or contact Kevin Ronaghan, CFSOS community investments manager at kevinronaghan@cfso.net.