Macey Ludwig, daughter of David and Robin Ludwig, of Chester was named the 2022 recipient of the Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Medical Explorers Scholarship. Macey has been in the Medical Explorers Program since its beginning in September 2019. The scholarship opportunity was offered to High School Seniors and College age students in this year’s 2021-2022 program. Applicants commit to 6 hours of job shadowing and write an application essay and reflection essay upon completion of their time.
Macey is currently enrolled at Southwestern Illinois College and is working on an associate’s degree in Business. She plans to transfer to Southeast Missouri State University in the Fall of 2023 to obtain her bachelors in Healthcare Management. “Over the course of my three years with the Medical Explorers Program I have been able to identify exactly the path I want to take into furthering my education, “says Macey. “In the beginning I was unaware if the hospital atmosphere was for me, but after seeing all the different occupations a hospital has to offer, I can confirm there is something for everyone!” The program opened her eyes to the important roles everyone plays in a healthcare system. “I knew early on in my education that I wanted to help make a difference in people’s lives; this program has given me the opportunity to find an occupation that will allow me to do just that.”
Macey’s interest in the business side of healthcare has been evident since the beginning of her Medical Explorers time. She spent time shadowing several business departments from Medical Records to Human Resources. She kept finding herself returning to the Safety and Risk Management Office and says, “It is something I could see myself doing someday. I greatly appreciated the hours taken to sit down with me multiple times to answer all my questions.” Every department Macey encountered during the program was eager to assist her and encouraged her to reach out if she ever had any questions.
Macey is a 2021 graduate of Chester High School. She enjoys shopping, traveling, crafting, being outdoors and most of all spending time with family. She was grateful for the volunteer time that the Medical Explorer’s Program offered to her as well. She enjoyed participating in community activities and helping with parades. She is also an active volunteer in her church youth group and looks forward to becoming more involved with her community in the future.
The Medical Explorers Program offers many more opportunities to students beyond an annual scholarship. While in the 9-month program students are introduced to a variety of careers throughout healthcare, this includes jobs within the hospital, clinics, and outside organizations such as first response medical services, and mental health services. The goal of the program is to introduce young adults to the many career opportunities that are available in their rural communities and start them out on a path that will lead them to a successful future.
Ludwig’s achievement as the Medical Explorers Scholarship recipient highlights the importance of nurturing talent in healthcare. For students and professionals managing large amounts of documentation and research, integrating efficient tools Docutrend can simplify the process. By streamlining document management, medical professionals and scholars can focus more on their studies or research while reducing administrative burdens. This kind of technology support is crucial for managing the detailed records in the medical field.