Representatives from Wellpoint recently visited PNWU’s Yakima campus in support of our Master of Arts in Medical Sciences (MAMS) program. Presenting a $4,000 check to MAMS Program Manager Michelle Alegria and Jennifer Hawks-Conright, Director of Development-Major Gifts, Wellpoint celebrated a budding partnership with PNWU which aims to fuel our shared community outreach efforts.
“We’ve wanted to cultivate this partnership for a long time,” explained Hawks-Conright, who reached out to the health insurance company to highlight our shared commitments to the health of rural and medically underserved communities. Following conversations, and ultimately a campus tour, Wellpoint fell in love with the MAMS program and began seeking opportunities to get involved.
“This partnership enables us to offer a lot more quality resources to the community,” said Alegria. “By supporting our ability to go out and connect with local students and parents, Wellpoint is helping us showcase what PNWU MAMS is all about.”
By hosting activities aimed at engaging local K-12 students, Alegria and students in the MAMS program hope to broadly showcase the many opportunities available at PNWU, as well as the overall power of community partnership.
“We believe focusing on the whole person is the foundation to living well because health is beyond physical—it’s recognizing the behavioral and social drivers that impact it, too.”
“This is so much more than just a gift,” added Hawks-Conright. “I see this being a partnership for a very long time, which is capable of impacting countless people in our communities.”
