Six high school volunteens at Floyd Medical Center have received 2020 Healthcare Hero Scholarships from the Blue Ridge Area Health Education Center in partnership with the hospital.

Blue Ridge AHEC s a non-profit regional health education center based in Rome. Its mission is to increase the supply, distribution and education of health professionals in northwest Georgia.

Floyd volunteers share their time and talents to enhance the customer experience. More than 200 community volunteers make a difference every day. Teen volunteers, also called volunteens, must be 16 years of age or older and serve only during the summer months. Only a select group of teens is chosen for service.

“Through your hard work, determination, and volunteer efforts, you have proven to be a student that we want to recognize and encourage to pursue a career in health care," Blue Ridge AHEC wrote in a letter to the students.

 The six volunteers include:

• Rylee Barfield graduated from Trinity Center and plans to attend the University of Georgia. She hopes to pursue a career in psychiatry.

• Jessica Lopez graduated from Gordon Central High School. She will attend the University of Georgia and plans to become a family physician. 

• Nidhi Patel is a Rome High School graduate. She plans on attending the University of Georgia and hopes to pursue a career as a physician assistant specializing in pediatrics.

• Guillermo Ramirez-Sanchez graduated from Rome High School. He intends to major in chemistry at Georgia State University and plans to become a pediatric anesthesiologist. 

• Jenny Tran is a Rome High alumna who hopes to pursue a career in pediatrics. She intends to enroll at Georgia State University.

• Judson Wilson, a Coosa High School graduate, plans to attend Kennesaw State University. He hopes to attend medical school to become a pediatrician or family medicine physician.

“The Volunteen Program at Floyd Medical Center provides students an opportunity to explore different health care career options in a hospital setting," said Carolyn Falcitelli, Director of Volunteer Services at Floyd. “It's exciting to know that Volunteer Services can assist students in determining what their life's work will be. Partnering with AHEC will help these students accomplish their educational goals and ensures there will be future heroes behind the masks."