Scholarship Recipient’s Vision is Fueled by Volunteer Service

Growing up in a family that values education and community service, Arunadee Fernando was inspired to pursue a career where she could make a meaningful impact on people's lives. After volunteering at Mary Greeley Medical Center as a teenager, she found the place she wanted to make that impact. 

And scholarships she has received from the Mary Greeley Foundation have been instrumental in moving her aspirations closer to reality.

Arunadee's introduction to healthcare began as a 15-year-old when she started volunteering in the Valet department at Mary Greeley. That eventually led to her serving as a patient safety volunteer. These experiences revealed how important compassion is in the medical field, and how working in healthcare could combine her love for science with her commitment to helping others.

"I realized that healthcare was the perfect career for me," Arunadee recalls. "I saw from early on how it would offer me the opportunity to make a tangible difference in people's lives."

Career Aspirations

With a clear goal in mind, Arunadee focused her studies on eventually attending medical school. Her academic journey at Iowa State University was supported by scholarships from the Mary Greeley Foundation—including most recently the J. Ben Buck Scholarship—which provided both financial assistance and encouragement.

"The scholarships have alleviated a significant portion of the financial burden associated with higher education," says Arunadee, who has received two different scholarships awarded by the Foundation during her time at Iowa State. "This has allowed me to focus more on my studies."

Arunadee is deeply grateful for the opportunities the scholarships have provided, acknowledging the role of the Mary Greeley Foundation and its donors in making her education possible.

"I am incredibly thankful to the donors like the Buck family who make these scholarships possible," she says. "Their generosity has not only helped me achieve my educational goals but has also inspired me to give back to the community in the future."

The Impact of Scholarships

Scholarships from the Mary Greeley Foundation are designed to support students like Arunadee who are committed to pursuing careers in healthcare. These scholarships are part of the Foundation's broader mission to invest in the current and future healthcare workforce.

“By providing for scholarships, our supporters are not only assisting individual students, but are also investing in the future of healthcare,” says Melissa McGarry, Executive Director of the Mary Greeley Foundation. “These investments ensure that the community has access to skilled and compassionate healthcare professionals for generations to come.”

The Foundation's support helps ensure that talented and dedicated individuals can pursue their educational and professional goals without being hindered by financial constraints. Arunadee says she is proud to have earned Foundation support.

Expressing Gratitude

"I want to work in an environment where I can continuously learn and grow," she says, indicating she has been impressed with the way life-long learning is supported at Mary Greeley. "My aim is to provide the best possible care to my patients and to be a source of support for their families one day as a physician."

"I am forever grateful for all I have received," she continues, mentioning the support beyond scholarships, including motivation and encouragement from members of the Volunteer Services department and the units she has served on. "It has made a world of difference in my life, and I am committed to paying it forward by providing excellent care to my future patients."

For more information about the scholarships offered by the Mary Greeley Foundation and to learn how you can support future healthcare professionals, please https://www.mgmc.org/careers/scholarships.