Marshall County Community Foundation Announces First Bowen Family Medical Scholarship Recipient

Jesse Gettinger of Bremen has been named recipient of the first Bowen Family Medical Scholarship. The scholarship honors the legacy of Dr. Otis Bowen, with the hope to encourage primary care physicians to practice in medically under-served rural Hoosier communities. Improving the quality of life for residents in our local communities is part of the mission of the Marshall County Community Foundation.

Carol Bowen and the Bowen family established the Bowen Family Medical Scholarship at the Marshall County Community Foundation in 2012. Dr. Bowen practiced family medicine in the Bremen community from 1946 through 1972. He then served as the 44th Governor of Indiana from 1973 to 1981 and as Secretary of Health and Human Services from 1985 to 1989.

The Bowen Family Medical Scholarship focuses on meeting the health needs of rural communities by supporting primary care medical students as they work through medical school and residency programs. The Bowen Family Medical Scholarship is a unique way to help primary care practitioner students and holds promising keys for Marshall County’s health care future.

Jesse attended Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, and is currently attending Indiana University School of Medicine, class of 2021. Jesse’s goal once finished with medical school is “to practice family medicine in the northern Indiana area. My hope is to also complete my residency at a hospital in this community as it would be my privilege to give back to a community which has given so much to me.”

Jesse decided on primary care because of the variety of daily patients and the opportunity to build relationships with patients from one generation to the next. He believes that getting to know the patients is just one way a primary care doctor can provide a service to the community in a special way, allowing him to serve others first.

“The Bowen Family Medical Scholarship has made a positive impact by not only helping with the expenses of medical school, it is also a motivation and an honor to be supported by my local community,” Jesse said.

Interested medical students or residents may learn more about the scholarship by visiting the Marshall County Community Foundation website, calling 574-935-5159 or emailing info@marshallcountycf.org.