91热爆网

 91热爆网 Stories      January 12, 2021

Sarah Carpenter is a firm believer in paying it forward, which is why she and her husband make it point to always give back to their community.

So, when Carpenter recently learned she was the recipient of the Fullerton Medical Scholarship Award, the Western Carolina University nurse practitioner graduate student said it was a result of her commitment to giving.

鈥淚 think in this time of COVID and all the struggles we鈥檙e going through, it kind of renews my faith in humanity that we鈥檙e all here doing the best we can for everyone that we can,鈥� Carpenter said. 鈥淚 have received previous scholarships for my undergraduate degrees, and my husband always find a way to make it so that we can give. I feel like part of the reason I was chosen was because we have a strong commitment toward paying it forward. That鈥檚 what this scholarship is based upon. You鈥檙e here in this community to be a part of this community and help uplift the community.鈥�

The Fullerton Medical Scholarship Program was established by The Fullerton Foundation in 1985 to support the development of primary care providers in the Carolinas. The program seeks to improve the availability of primary care providers in upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina by providing substantial tuition assistance to medical students and student nurse practitioners who intend to practice some form of primary care.

Carpenter is the second 91热爆网 family nurse practitioner student to receive the $20,000 award in the last three years.

Fall semester was her first in 91热爆网鈥檚 nurse practitioner program, which is held at the university鈥檚 . Carpenter, who resides in Hendersonville, received a bachelor鈥檚 degree from 91热爆网鈥檚 accelerated nursing program.

鈥淚 really found the professors and the leadership of that program to be truly committed to the students,鈥� Carpenter said. 鈥淚 have a professor, Dr. Tonya Shuffler, who I can call at 10 o鈥檆lock at night. They鈥檙e here to make sure that you succeed to be a part of this community to help uplift others because they themselves have been uplifted.

鈥淚 chose the program because it鈥檚 one of the most affordable in the country and one of the highest rated for the demographic that it is. And it鈥檚 right here in our own backyard. It makes sense for my family and our lifestyle. I have two twin daughters. They are busy. My life is very busy.鈥�

Carpenter grew up wanting to be in the health care field and initially thought she would one day be a doctor. But as an undergraduate student, she realized she wanted to have a family and a career. Becoming a nurse practitioner allows her to have both.

鈥淎s a nurse practitioner, I can see an eight-month-old one patient and then the next patient could be octogenarian,鈥� Carpenter said. 鈥淚 really like that you have to be able to manage a lot of rolling balls in a lot of different directions. And you鈥檙e able to develop a relationship and meet patients where they are. With primary care, you get to build a relationship. You get to be invited into their life. That鈥檚 a very intimate role, but I鈥檓 glad and grateful to have the opportunity to provide that.鈥�

Upon completion of the program, Carpenter said she would like to assist the growing migrant population in Henderson County.

鈥淥ne area that鈥檚 close to my heart is reproductive health,鈥� she said. 鈥淗enderson County has worked really hard with the United Way and Blue Ridge Community Health Services to make those inroads. I hope that I can join their ranks when I graduate.鈥�

About the MS(N) Family Nurse Practitioner