The Dr. Prem Reddy Family Foundation held its annual scholarship award ceremony this month in Victorville, an event that has empowered over 930 health care students over the decades.
During this year’s event in Victorville, the foundation presented $110,000 in academic scholarships to 85 High Desert students pursuing careers in health sciences, foundation officials stated.
The event was the latest in the foundation’s decades-long mission to encourage and support the newest generation of health care professionals. To date, the organization has committed over $2 million.
Founded in 1989 by Dr. Prem Reddy, founder, chairman and CEO of Prime Healthcare, the Foundation supports scholarships, health education, public health programs and community clinics locally and globally.
“The event was more than a celebration of achievement—it was a tribute to the passion and purpose it takes to pursue a calling in health care,” Foundation Executive Director Sunitha Reddy said. “These scholars are the reason this Foundation exists. Through their commitment to serve, they carry forward a legacy grounded in compassion, access, and hope.”
The scholarship recipients at the ceremony on June 12, ranged in age from 16 to 54, including high school students overcoming adversity and single mothers returning to school.
A record number of applications were received in 2025, reflecting both increased need and interest in health care careers, the foundation stated.
“You’ve chosen a path in health care, a path that demands knowledge, compassion, and resilience,” Sunitha Reddy said. “As you care for others, never forget that your journey is part of a greater legacy, one rooted in service and driven by the belief that every patient deserves to be seen, heard, and healed.”
Scholarship recipient Tiffany Bogan shared her journey, which began at birth as she was diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome and placed in foster care. She later survived Hurricane Katrina and faced continued hardship from addiction and loss in her family, the foundation shared.
“I’m not here because everything went right—I’m here because I never gave up,” Bogan said. “I’ve built this future from the ground up, and I plan to use it to serve others as a doctor, shaped by struggle and led by love.”
At the ceremony, the keynote address was delivered by Desert Valley Hospital Chief Nursing Officer Karyl James, who spoke on perseverance, purpose and service in health care.
“As you stand at the crossroads of your journey in health care, remember that your path is not just about the destination—it’s about the lives you touch, the lessons you learn, and the growth you experience along the way,” she said.
The list of additional speakers and presenters included:
The foundation stated that the High Desert is designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area, with many recipients expressing a commitment to serve locally.
To address physician shortages across the Inland Empire, Reddy and the Foundation helped establish the California University of Science and Medicine with a contribution exceeding $80 million.
The California University of Science and Medicine graduated its first class of 62 physicians in 2022, many of whom plan to serve the region.
The Dr. Prem Reddy Family Foundation and family also supports Samaritan’s Purse by donating equipment used in clinics in poverty-stricken regions worldwide.
The foundation also funds clean water initiatives, childhood vaccination programs, educational grants, new medical clinics, and medical missions.
For more information about the Dr. Prem Reddy Family Foundation, visit premreddy.com, or contact Andrea Bell at 760-381-8913 or scholarships@reddyfamilyfoundation.org.
