On August 5, L.A. Care Health Plan celebrated the 2025 recipients of its Elevating the Safety Net (ESN) Medical School Scholarship Program at a heartfelt ceremony in downtown Los Angeles.
The event recognized eight dedicated future physicians and highlighted the crucial issues surrounding health equity in Los Angeles’ underserved communities.
The ESN Scholarship Program, in its eighth year, awards full-ride medical school scholarships to aspiring doctors committed to serving vulnerable neighborhoods in Los Angeles County.
Four scholarships were awarded to Hermona Okbu, Tenisha Janisse, Jessi Cristóbal Jeronimo Ruiz, and Jessica Liliana Porras, who will be attending Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science.
The remaining four scholarships went to Daisy Huerta, Ezenna Onuoha, Wendy Perez, and Delmy Ruiz, who are set to begin their journeys at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
These scholarships relieve the burden of student debt, enabling recipients to focus entirely on their mission of providing essential healthcare services where they are most needed.
The ceremony held special significance for those affiliated with CDU, acknowledged as California’s only Historically Black College and University (HBCU), despite lacking the official designation.
Historically, the university has served as a symbol of hope and opportunity for Black students aspiring to enter the medical field.
Many scholars from CDU have expressed a strong desire to serve the Black community, which has faced limited access to quality healthcare, particularly in light of diminishing resources.
During her address, Martha Santana-Chin, CEO of L.A. Care, emphasized the critical need for more doctors in Los Angeles, especially in areas where families struggle to secure primary care services.
According to data from the California Health Care Foundation, nearly 11.4 million Californians reside in federally designated Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas, spotlighting the significant impact of L.A. Care’s scholarship initiative.
“Los Angeles simply needs more doctors—especially in neighborhoods where families have trouble accessing primary healthcare,” Santana-Chin noted.
Since its inception in 2018, L.A. Care has invested nearly $500,000 per student in the ESN program, empowering these future physicians to bridge existing healthcare gaps.
Assemblymember Mike Gipson, representing California’s 65th Assembly District, also spoke at the ceremony, urging the scholars to leverage their education and abilities to dismantle the barriers to healthcare in Los Angeles.
“You are the torchbearers of our communities, our families, and our collective future,” Gipson declared.
“Our community is counting on you to stand up for the least of these, to heal, and to lead. We need you now more than ever.”
The long-standing issue of healthcare access in low-income and minority communities remains particularly dire for Black and Latino families.
It is further complicated by funding cuts that threaten the viability of providers serving these areas.
Dr. José Torres-Ruiz, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at CDU, echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of initiatives like the ESN scholarship in tackling the healthcare disparities that disproportionately affect marginalized groups.
“It’s not just about the education, but about the ability to give back,” Torres-Ruiz stated.
“With the scholarship, these students are given the freedom to serve their communities without the burden of debt hanging over them.”
Ezenna Onuoha, one of the recipients attending the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, shared how the scholarship alleviated financial pressures that often discourage students from pursuing careers in medicine.
“This scholarship gives me the freedom to stay focused on my commitment to underserved populations without compromising due to financial challenges,” Onuoha said.
Another scholarship recipient, Tenisha Janisse, reflected on her inspiration to pursue medicine, which arose from her personal health struggles and observing family members receiving inadequate care.
“I don’t want to see others suffer the way I did,” Janisse remarked.
“I want to give back to the community that raised me.”
A Los Angeles native, Janisse is determined to remain in the area to serve her community.
“If I can match in the community, that’s where I want to stay,” she expressed.
“Los Angeles will always feel like home.”
The ceremony also underscored the pressing need for additional healthcare providers in underserved areas, especially as funding for safety-net services continues to dwindle.
Without programs like the ESN scholarship, many aspiring medical students would be compelled to pursue alternate career paths due to the high costs associated with medical education.
As health disparities rise, the contributions of scholars such as Onuoha and Janisse will be critical to ensuring future generations have access to necessary healthcare.
L.A. Care’s Elevating the Safety Net program not only offers financial support but also serves as a symbol of hope for Angelenos historically facing challenges in accessing healthcare.
The future physicians celebrated during this year’s white coat ceremony represent more than just students; they stand as community leaders and changemakers poised to foster a healthier future for Los Angeles.
As L.A. Care continues to invest in local talent, it is evident that these scholarship recipients are prepared to answer the call to serve.
Their journey is just beginning, and with the support from the community, they will act as catalysts for advancing health equity.
image source from：lasentinel
