Provident Scholarship Fund - Health Professionals Program

Provident Scholarship Fund - Health Professionals Program

Funder: Cook County Health Foundation, Cook County Health, Cook County Government

Geographic Scope: Cook County, Illinois

Award Amount: $20,000 per scholarship

Focus Areas: Supporting healthcare workforce diversity and equity by funding students pursuing careers in healthcare

Program Description

The Provident Scholarship Fund is named after Provident Hospital, founded in 1891 by Dr. Daniel Hale Williams—the first African American-owned and operated hospital in the United States. The fund builds on this legacy to uplift and support diversity in healthcare.

Eligibility

• Students enrolled in doctorate-level medical and dental programs (MD, DO, DDS, DMD)
• Students in graduate-level clinical programs including:
- Physician Assistant (PA) programs - Behavioral Health programs - Nurse Practitioner programs
• Students must be from and dedicated to serving underrepresented communities in Cook County
• Evaluation considers:
- Academic achievements - Recommendations - Personal statements - Cook County zip code and Social Vulnerability Index placement - Commitment to serving historically underserved communities

Funding Source

• Cook County Health: $1.5M (2025 year)
• Cook County Health Foundation: Contributes additional support
• Supported by Cook County Government as part of Project Rainbow equity initiative

Program History

• Established in 2022
• As of July 2025: Nearly 200 students have received scholarships totaling over $4M
• 2025 cohort: 106 awardees (largest to date)

Contact Information

Address: c/o Impact House, 200 W. Madison St. Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60606

Website: https://cookcountyhealth.org/about/careers/provident-scholarship-fund/

Related Initiative: Project Rainbow - https://projectrainbow.cookcountyil.gov/