RFU’s Health Professions Program (HPP) collaboration with Lake Forest College — and the cause of building bridges for underserved students — received a boost in late 2020 when Deerfield-based Horizon Therapeutics committed $500,000 toward full-ride HPP scholarships.
The Horizon Scholars initiative will provide two four-year scholarships for economically disadvantaged students and students of color. Preference will be given to students of color from Lake County or the greater Chicagoland area.
“Equity and inclusion in education is a significant global issue, and we feel it is important for companies and individuals who have the resources to help remove obstacles that exist for marginalized populations,” said Tim Walbert, Horizon’s chairman, president and chief executive officer. He added that “we look forward to developing long-term partnerships (and) building a global network of Horizon Scholars” with Lake Forest College and Rosalind Franklin University.
The grant affirms the bold vision RFU shares with LFC, and aligns with the university’s goal of improving wellness through our own means and through partnerships. RFU is collaborating with regional academic, industry and clinical partners to strengthen the high school to college pathway in northern Lake County. With endeavors like the HPP that draw from and are intent on serving our most vulnerable communities, RFU and LFC empower students to help address structural barriers by offering culturally competent care.
HPP students enter an accelerated pathway that starts at LFC and continues through RFU, preparing them for careers in fields that include allopathic medicine, podiatric medicine, pharmacy, biomedical science, physical therapy, physician assistant, pathologists’ assistant and clinical psychology. Announced in October 2020, the HPP drew more than 200 participants entering the Spring 2021 semester at Lake Forest College.
According to Horizon, LFC faculty members and admission counselors will select the first two Horizon Scholars, who will matriculate this fall as members of the Class of 2025.