Dr. Ronald Bernardini Scholarship for Health Professionals

Your Future in Healthcare Starts Here

Every great physician, chiropractor, nurse, or therapist began exactly where you are right now — as a student with a vision, a calling, and the courage to pursue it. The Dr. Ronald Bernardini Scholarship for Health Professionals was created to honor that courage and invest $1,000 directly into the education of an undergraduate student who is ready to make their mark on the world of healthcare.

This is more than a scholarship. It is a statement — that the next generation of health professionals deserves to be supported, celebrated, and challenged to think boldly about the future of patient care.

Applications are now open. The deadline to apply is January 15, 2027.

Scholarship Overview

The Dr. Ronald Bernardini Scholarship for Health Professionals is a $1,000 annual award presented to one outstanding undergraduate student who is actively pursuing a career in the health professions. The scholarship is awarded through an essay competition designed to identify students who not only have academic ambition, but a genuine, thoughtful commitment to the future of healthcare. Inspired by the pioneering career of Dr. Ronald Bernardini — chiropractor, hospital innovator, and lifelong patient advocate — this scholarship reflects his core belief that great healthcare begins with great people. Over the course of more than four decades in practice, Dr. Bernardini broke barriers, built bridges between medical disciplines, and championed a holistic, patient-first approach to healing. Through this scholarship, that legacy lives on in the students who will carry healthcare forward.

Criteria

Do You Qualify? Here Is What We Are Looking For.

The Dr. Ronald Bernardini Scholarship for Health Professionals is open to students who meet the following criteria. We encourage applicants from all health-related disciplines — this scholarship is as broad as the field of healthcare itself.

✅ Basic Eligibility

  • Must be 18 years of age or older at the time of application

✅ Academic Eligibility

  • Currently enrolled as a full-time or part-time undergraduate student at an accredited college or university in the United States
  • Pursuing a degree or pre-professional program in a health-related field, including but not limited to:
    • Pre-Medicine or Pre-Chiropractic
    • Nursing or Nurse Practitioner Studies
    • Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy
    • Public Health or Community Health
    • Pharmacy or Pharmaceutical Sciences
    • Dentistry or Dental Hygiene
    • Radiology or Diagnostic Imaging
    • Health Administration or Healthcare Management
    • Any other allied health or clinical health sciences program
  • Maintaining a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (official transcript required)
  • In good academic and disciplinary standing with your institution

✅ Application Requirements

  • A completed essay responding to the official essay prompt (see below)
  • A current unofficial or official transcript showing enrollment status and GPA
  • Proof of enrollment in a health-related undergraduate program (acceptance letter, enrollment verification, or student ID)
  • Full legal name, mailing address, phone number, and email address
  • All materials must be submitted together in a single email to:
    📧 [email protected]
  • Incomplete applications will not be reviewed
  • There is no application fee

✅ Essay Prompt

  • The essay is the heart of your application. This is your opportunity to speak directly to the selection committee — in your own voice, with your own story.
  • “Healthcare is about more than medicine — it is about people. In 500 to 800 words, describe why you chose to pursue a career in the health professions, what experiences have shaped your commitment to patient care, and how you envision making a meaningful and lasting impact on the patients or communities you will one day serve.”

Amount

One time award of $1,000

Deadline

The deadline to apply for the scholarship is January 15, 2027.

Winner Announced

The winner of the scholarship will be announced on February 15, 2027.

How to Apply

Three Simple Steps to Submit Your Application

Applying for the Dr. Ronald Bernardini Scholarship for Health Professionals is straightforward. Follow the steps below to ensure your application is complete and submitted on time.

📋 Step 1 — Prepare Your Materials

Before you submit, make sure you have the following ready:

  • ✔️ Your completed essay (500–800 words, in response to the official prompt)
  • ✔️ A copy of your current academic transcript (unofficial accepted)
  • ✔️ Proof of enrollment in a health-related undergraduate program
  • ✔️ Your full contact information (name, address, phone, and email)

Take your time with your essay. The selection committee reads every submission carefully, and a thoughtful, personal response will always stand out.

📧 Step 2 — Submit by Email

Once your materials are ready, send everything in a single email to:

📩 [email protected]

Email Subject Line: Bernardini Scholarship Application — [Your Full Name]

Attach your essay and supporting documents as separate files. Applications submitted without all required materials will not be considered. You will receive a confirmation email within 5–7 business days of submission acknowledging receipt of your application.

Along with the essay, please provide the following information:

  • Full Name
  • Phone Number
  • Address
  • Email Address
  • Name of High School and Graduation Date
  • The University that you are currently enrolled in.
  • Personal Bio
  • GPA