The Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation (IHERF), a nonprofit subsidiary of IHA, announced that applications for its 2027 healthcare education scholarships are now open. Once again this year, IHERF will award 60 postsecondary healthcare scholarships of up to $6,000 ($3,000 per year for a maximum of two years). Applicants must apply each year.
The IHERF Healthcare Careers Scholarship program was established in 2005 to help address the shortage of healthcare professionals and encourage high school students to pursue careers with Iowa hospitals. Scholarships are awarded annually to both high school seniors and college students enrolled or interested in healthcare-related fields of study.
Since its inception, the program has supported nearly 1,100 Iowa students in pursuing higher education in healthcare fields, contributing to a growing pipeline of skilled professionals dedicated to serving patients across the state. To date, the foundation has awarded approximately $3.3 million in scholarships.
The scholarships focus on students pursuing high-demand healthcare positions. Qualified positions include:
- Audiologist
- Clinical laboratory scientist/medical technologist
- Clinical laboratory technician/medical laboratory technician
- Coder (associate degree)
- Dietician
- Emergency medical technician (associate degree/certification)
- Healthcare informatics
- Licensed mental health counselor
- Medical interpreter ($500 scholarship)
- Nursing (licensed practical nurse; associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees; advanced registered nurse practitioner, Doctor of Nursing practice)
- Occupational therapist
- Physical therapist
- Physician assistant
- Psychiatrist/psychologist
- Radiology (radiology, nuclear medicine, MRI and ultrasound technologists and technicians)
- Respiratory therapist
- Social worker (licensed independent social worker, Master of Social Work)
- Speech therapist
- Surgical technician (associate degree)
Students must be enrolled in an accredited program leading to licensure or a clinical laboratory degree and be within three years of completing their professional education. Applications must be submitted by Feb. 15, 2027.
For more information, visit www.IHERF.org. Click HERE to download an informational flyer about the scholarship program.
