Student Lauren Strowder was thrilled when she was accepted into the 2015-16 class of the NEOMED-CSU Partnership for Urban Health. Equally exciting was being the first recipient of the John E. Coletta, M.D. Endowed Scholarship and meeting donors Concetta and Tom Kuluris at CSU’s annual Scholarship Luncheon in April. Concetta is the late Dr. Coletta’s daughter.
“I truly appreciate their generosity,” says Strowder. “They were so friendly and personable and it wonderful to learn what an amazing physician and family man Dr. Coletta was. Thanks to my scholarship, I can afford my education, spend more time with my growing family and am one step closer to medical school.”
Strowder, a Cleveland native who has long been interested in medicine, graduated from Denison University in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry. After working in research and coaching volleyball at Howard University, she decided that while she loved coaching, she loved the medical field even more. She decided to follow her passion and applied to the Partnership for Urban Health.
“I’m really excited to be part of a program that focuses on the medical skills and cultural competency of physicians who will be working in environments where patients don’t always receive the best care,” she notes.
Strowder’s goal is to become an ob/gyn and practice in the Cleveland area.