The board of directors of the Foundation of Collier County Medical Society (CCMS) is pleased to announce that Stephanie Galindo, graduate of Golden Gate High School in Naples and Florida Gulf Coast University, in the class of 2027 at Florida State University College of Medicine, is the winner of the Foundation’s 2023 Dr. William and Nancy Lascheid Memorial Scholarship for Medical Students.
The $12,500 award recognizes future physicians who are Florida residents and have demonstrated excellence in community service, in memory of Dr. and Mrs. Lascheid, co-founders of the charitable Neighborhood Health Clinic in Naples and past presidents of CCMS and the CCMS Alliance, respectively. It is the ninth year the Foundation has provided this scholarship.
“This memorial scholarship provides much-needed financial aid to future medical professionals and rewards students who give their time and talents to charitable causes,” said Dr. Rolando Rivera, board chair of the Foundation. “Ms. Galindo is an outstanding student and volunteer who is dedicated to caring for vulnerable members of our community just as the Lascheids did, and we are honored to give her this award.”
“The Dr. William and Nancy Lascheid Memorial Scholarship clearly reflects my parents mission of providing quality medical care for low-income workers who are in need,” said Leslie Lascheid, CEO of Neighborhood Health Clinic. “Congratulations to Ms. Galindo, this year’s recipient, whose passion of caring for others and her commitment to volunteerism mirrors the overall mission and vision of the Clinic.”
Ms. Galindo, a first-generation Mexican American, received her bachelor’s in biochemistry & biotechnology at Florida Gulf Coast University. Her community service activities have included volunteering with Neighborhood Health Clinic, Grace Place for Children and Families, Naples Community Hospital, Lions Club, and Global Medical Brigades. She is also a graduate of the Youth Leadership Collier program, class of 2017.
“There are no words to convey how honored and privileged I feel to have been selected. As a previous volunteer at the Neighborhood Health Clinic, I had the opportunity to meet Nancy Lascheid and see how the Clinic benefitted and changed the lives of many individuals in the Collier County community,” said Ms. Galindo. “This scholarship will help ease the financial burden of medical school and motivates me to continue my journey in becoming a physician committed to educating and elevating patients from marginalized and underrepresented backgrounds. Hopefully someday, I’ll get to go back to the Neighborhood Health Clinic and serve these patients as a physician.”
The Foundation is a 501(c)3 charitable organization launched by the Collier County Medical Society in 2012, with the mission to provide support and leadership to programs that address access to healthcare and promote health education. The Foundation’s 10th Anniversary signature fundraiser, the Docs & Duffers Golf Tournament on September 30, 2023, will help raise funds for its scholarships and local healthcare programs in need. More information is available at ccmsfoundation.org/#golf and fb.com/ccmsfoundation.