West Conshohocken, PA (September 10, 2020) – Tandigm Scholars, a nonprofit organization formed by Tandigm Health to support deserving primary care physicians in the Philadelphia area announced the selection of its 2020 scholarship recipients. Since the program’s launch in 2015, Tandigm Scholars has helped 30 physicians offset existing educational debt.
The five Scholars chosen each year are awarded up to $60,000 over the course of the three-year program. Beyond financial support, Scholars also receive guidance for personal and professional development from a Tandigm Physician Mentor. Mentors ultimately aid in the development of skills that allow the Scholars to successfully provide value-based care and enhance the patient experience.
The five primary care physicians recognized as 2020 Tandigm Scholars are:
- Dr. Si Lam – Holland Medical Associates, Holland, PA
- Dr. Meghan Belamorich – Christine Meyer, MD and Associates, Exton, PA
- Dr. Lauren Cook – Delaware Valley Medical and Wellness Center, Levittown, PA
- Dr. Diana Zackey – Ninth Street Internal Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
- Dr. Jessica Souchet – James W. Flanagan MD Family Practice, Southampton, PA
“The COVID-19 pandemic has posed many challenges for primary care physicians, but it has also reinforced the importance of working to maintain health and wellness through regular and long-term engagement with a trusted PCP,” said Tandigm Health Executive Chairman and Tandigm Scholars Chairman Anthony Coletta, M.D., M.B.A. “Tandigm is rising to meet these challenges by providing enhanced support to physicians as they adapt to this unprecedented moment, and Tandigm Scholars allows us to augment that support at the individual level with financial assistance and invaluable mentorship for outstanding physicians in our local community.”
The economic ripple effects of the pandemic have been particularly pronounced for primary care practices, many of which are coping with decreased patient volume and lower revenue. At the same time, the U.S. is potentially facing a major shortage of physicians as demand from a growing and aging population outpaces the number of physicians entering the field. Physicians completing residency programs carry an average of more than $200,000 of educational debt, according to 2019 data from the Association of American Medical Colleges, and this burden can dissuade talented students from pursuing certain medical careers. This is especially apparent in areas like primary care and family medicine, which have traditionally paid less than many specialties. Tandigm Scholars aims to alleviate the burden of sizable student debt.
“One of the most important aspects of primary care is preventative medicine. I chose this field in order to make a difference at the critical point before disease can affect patients’ lives,” said Dr. Meghan Belamorich, a 2020 Scholar. “Tandigm recognizes and supports physicians on this journey by providing an invaluable opportunity to learn under the guidance of a mentor and to help finance their education. I am truly excited for this future endeavor as a 2020 Tandigm Scholar.”
An investment in primary care is an investment in the future of health. Funds to support the Tandigm Scholars Program come from Tandigm Health and private donors.
Media Contact
Scott Breed, Tandigm Health
215-568-4775
Scott.Breed@tandigmhealth.com