Chester Scholars Endowment Helps Future Healthcare Leaders Find Their Path

Over the years, Cassandra "Kandi" White, Administrative/Academic Coordinator for Neonatology at MetroHealth, has watched hundreds of aspiring healthcare professionals take their first steps toward careers in medicine and research through the Chester Scholars Program.

"Beyond providing a financial stipend, the program gives students a sense of confidence, encouragement and belonging that helps them pursue their academic and personal goals," Kandi said. "The Chester Scholars Program has consistently helped students believe in their potential and inspired them to achieve more than they thought possible."

For undergraduate students considering careers in healthcare, there is often a gap between classroom learning and the realities of medicine.

The Chester Scholars Program helps bridge that gap.

Established in 1981 to honor Edward Chester, MD, a pioneer in ambulatory medical education at MetroHealth, the program provides undergraduate students with an immersive summer experience in clinical research, physician shadowing and professional mentorship. Supported through the Chester Scholars Endowment, the program gives students opportunities that shape not only their résumés, but often their futures.

For the 2026 cohort, the impact was strikingly personal. Whether they arrived with a career path already in mind or were still exploring possibilities, Chester Scholars consistently described the experience as transformative, helping them discover new interests, deepen their understanding of patient care and build confidence in their next steps.

A New Passion in Maternal-Fetal Medicine

When Hansika Kunduru, a rising junior at Case Western Reserve University, arrived at MetroHealth as a Chester Scholar two years ago, an interest in healthcare and clinical research was already firmly in place.

A self-described lover of mathematics and science, Hansika was drawn to clinical research because it offered a way to translate data into real-world outcomes for patients. Through a maternal-fetal medicine and obstetrics research project, however, she discovered an unexpected area of interest and a potential future specialty.

"The experience affirmed my decision to pursue clinical healthcare," she said.

Hansika’s work led to her invitation to the 2026 Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Annual Meeting, where she was one of only a few undergraduate presenters. The research experience also helped open doors to a subsequent internship through Case Western Reserve University's Department of Nutrition.

Equally important were the relationships she built at MetroHealth.

"The shadowing and networking opportunities tied to the Chester Scholars program are unparalleled," Hansika said.

Exposure to MetroHealth's Emergency Department also broadened her understanding of healthcare access and the challenges faced by patients served by a public safety-net health system.

Looking back, she describes the experience as "the first of many milestones" in her healthcare journey.

Seeing Medicine Through a Human Lens

Piyush Chitnis, a junior at Ohio State University, entered the Chester Scholars Program already planning to attend medical school.

The experience helped confirm that goal while giving him valuable insight into the type of medicine he hopes to practice.

His research focused on infants with impaired bone health in MetroHealth's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where he developed skills in research, data analysis and coding while working closely with mentors.

But one lesson stood out above all others.

Initially, the patients connected to his research existed only as statistics on a screen. Visiting the NICU changed that perspective.

Meeting the infants and families behind the data reminded him that research findings represent real people whose lives can be affected by every study.

"It struck me that when working in medical research, one needs to be very careful to see the people beyond the numbers," he said.

The experience strengthened both his commitment to medicine and his desire to become a practicing physician. Extensive shadowing opportunities also helped him refine his interests, ultimately confirming his plan to pursue surgery and care for adult patients.

For Piyush, access to physicians across multiple specialties was one of the program's greatest benefits.

"Thank you for funding this wonderful program," he said. "It provides a great career experience, but beyond the résumé, the Chester Scholars program is a good way to learn the ins and outs of healthcare and medical research."

Discovering a Calling in the NICU

For Gloria Price, a senior at the University of Akron, the impact of the program was nothing short of life-changing.

A biology student and mother of a young son, Gloria initially envisioned a future in genetic counseling. During her Chester Scholars experience, she spent time shadowing in the NICU while waiting for her research project to move forward.

That experience changed everything.

"I shadowed the NICU for two weeks and was like, 'Oh my gosh, I need to do this,'" she said.

Now, Gloria plans to pursue medical school with the goal of becoming a neonatologist.

Her research project examined antibiotic use in neonatal patients, an area that carried special meaning. Her son, Beckham, was born at MetroHealth and spent time in the NICU as an infant.

One particularly rewarding moment came when she learned that findings from her project could help inform future clinical discussions and decision-making.

"It's wonderful to have the opportunity, especially as an undergrad, to be a part of that and make a difference," she said.

For Gloria, donor support made participation possible. Balancing motherhood, coursework and a summer research experience would have been difficult without the program's stipend.

"Seriously life-changing," she said. "That funding allowed me to really explore my passion."

Finding a Place in Patient Care

Melissa Rothschild, a senior at Elon University in North Carolina, arrived at MetroHealth on a very different path.

A psychology major with a neuroscience minor, she plans to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology and eventually specialize in neuropsychology.

Unlike many Chester Scholars, she is not preparing for medical school. Yet she found tremendous value in the program's flexibility and hands-on experiences.

Through extensive shadowing opportunities, Melissa spent time in behavioral health clinics, pediatric settings and neurodevelopmental programs. She observed psychiatric care, autism assessments and multidisciplinary patient evaluations.

One experience that stood out involved following a child with nonverbal autism through a full day of neurodevelopmental assessments.

Another came while shadowing a psychiatrist in the behavioral health setting, where she gained a new perspective on caring for patients experiencing serious mental illness.

"They really exposed me to a real-life scenario that I could possibly be in," she said.

The experience also helped her realize how much she enjoys direct patient interaction.

"I found out here that I really like patient care," Melissa said.

She credits the program with giving students unusual independence to explore their interests and gain clarity about their futures.

"They trust us a lot," she said. "They let us really explore our career paths."

Confirming the Road to Medicine

For Akhil Datla, a junior at Case Western Reserve University, the Chester Scholars Program reinforced a dream he had been pursuing for years.

A neuroscience major, Akhil learned about the program through a MetroHealth physician mentor who encouraged him to apply. During the summer, he conducted NICU research involving brain ultrasounds in very low birth weight infants while taking advantage of numerous shadowing opportunities across the health system.

For Akhil, one of the most exciting parts of the experience was learning to interpret ultrasound images and understand the clinical significance behind them.

"I felt like a doctor, too," he said.

But the broader exposure to medicine proved even more influential.

"The best part about this program wasn't the research," he said. "It was that we got to shadow whatever field we wanted."

Conversations with physicians, including those working in high-pressure specialties such as neurosurgery, confirmed his desire to pursue medicine.

"I think it 100 percent confirmed where I was going," he said.

Reflecting on donor support, Akhil expressed gratitude for the chance to experience medicine so early in his journey.

"Most people won't get that experience," he said. "It's really cool that we got that experience this early."

Opening Doors for Future Leaders

Emma Jirathearanat, a junior at The Ohio State University, also arrived knowing she wanted a career in medicine. What she found through the Chester Scholars Program was a level of immersion she had never expected.

Working alongside Emergency Medicine physician and former Chester Scholar Dr. Lance Wilson, Emma participated in cardiac research meetings. The primary focus of her research was a wearable device that tracks hydration levels. The device was tested on older patients in the emergency room setting.

"I feel like I've gone through such an immersive experience," she said.

Without family connections to medicine, Emma particularly valued the opportunity to interact with physicians, fellows, residents and medical students at every stage of the profession.

"I came into this knowing that I wanted to go into medicine. I did not know much," she said. "Coming into this program was like being thrown into the world of medicine."

Dr. Wilson understands that impact firsthand.

A former Chester Scholar himself, he credits the program with helping establish his own connection to MetroHealth decades ago.

"It was very formative for me," he said. Now, as a mentor, he sees the same transformation occurring in a new generation of students.

Emma hopes to attend medical school and one day return to MetroHealth as a physician, continuing a cycle that the Chester Scholars Endowment has supported for more than 40 years.

A Legacy That Continues

The stories of Hansika, Piyush, Gloria, Melissa, Akhil and Emma reflect the enduring impact of the Chester Scholars Endowment.

Some scholars discover entirely new career paths. Others confirm ambitions they already held. All gain access to meaningful mentorship, hands-on research and experiences that would otherwise be difficult to find as undergraduates.

For Kandi, the stories of the 2026 Chester Scholars are representative of what she has witnessed throughout the program's history.

"Many scholars have used the opportunity to engage in shadowing different departments, take on leadership roles and focus on their research with fewer financial barriers," she said.

Those experiences often lead to something even more important: confidence.

"What stands out most is the pride and gratitude students express, as well as the lasting connections and opportunities the program creates," she said.

As students discover new interests, confirm career goals and build relationships with mentors, Kandi sees them begin to view themselves differently, not simply as students interested in healthcare, but as future physicians, researchers and healthcare leaders.

"The Chester Scholars Program has consistently helped students believe in their potential and inspired them to achieve more than they thought possible," she said.

Since its founding, more than 600 students have participated in the Chester Scholars Program. Many have gone on to become physicians, researchers and healthcare leaders.

Thanks to the Chester Scholars Endowment, future generations will continue to receive the same opportunity: not simply to learn about healthcare, but to envision themselves within it.

To support the Chester Scholars Endowment, contact Caleb Sturrup, Philanthropy Officer of The MetroHealth Foundation, at 440-592-1434 and csturrup@metrohealth.org. Make an online gift here.