Baptist Health Foundation receives a $25,000 service grant from KCRF to support their cancer patients in their quest to receive quality, passionate care.
Baptist Health Foundation receives a $25,000 service grant from KCRF to support their cancer patients in their quest to receive quality, passionate care.
Goshen –The Kentuckiana Cancer Research Foundation (KCRF) based in Oldham County recently announced the recipients of its second annual scholarship program. The foundation says the scholarship program exemplifies their commitment to fostering education and supporting outstanding individuals pursuing a career in cancer care.
The scholarships, awarded annually in July, are available to residents both of Kentucky and Indiana who attend a higher educational institution and are pursuing a career in a cancer related field.
The foundation says there was a large pool of qualified applicants and after careful consideration and a rigorous selection process, four recipients were selected based on academic performance, extracurricular activities, leadership ability and financial need.
Anne Gowan of Indianapolis, Ind., a first-year medical student at Indiana University received a $7,500 scholarship to apply towards her medical school tuition. Her focus and passion are to become a physician specializing in the intersection of neuroscience, psychiatry and oncology. “My passion for cancer care and neuroscience began with a tragedy. In high school, I lost friend to glioblastoma multiforme,” she writes. The grief she felt was overwhelming. This led to her commitment to a career that merges scientific discovery with human connection.
Mout-Maine Moustapha of Indianapolis, Ind., received a $7,500 scholarship for his studies. He is also enrolled at Indiana University School of Medicine. As a result of his mother’s cancer journey, he became dedicated to an eventual career in surgical oncology, focusing on pancreatic cancer. His professors are highly complementary regarding his abilities. Moustapha also now serves as Class President of his medical school class and Vice President of the Student National Medical Association.
Scholarships of $3,500 were also granted to Victoria Yeakle and Tessa Nielsen, both of Louisville. Yeakle is pursuing a Master of Physician Assistant at Sullivan University. She is currently the Vice President of the Student Academy of the American Academy of PA. Yeakle also stressed that her career path is more than a profession, it is a calling to assist others, something Dr. La Rocca, founder and chairperson of KCRF, echoed with very much.
Nielsen is pursuing a Doctor of Occupational Therapy at Spalding University. This career path was somewhat chosen for Nielsen as she is a cancer survivor herself, having survived rhabdomyosarcoma at the age of 4. “Cancer changed my life, but it gave me a sense of direction. Now I want to use my experience to make things a little easier for others,” she states.
“We are honored and delighted to make a small positive impact in our community and in cancer care by supporting the development of future professionals that will make meaningful contributions to cancer medicine and research,” stated Dr. Renato La Rocca.
In addition to these scholarships, Baptist Health Foundation received a $25,000 service grant to support their cancer patients in their quest to receive quality, passionate care. “The investment made by KCRF has had a profound impact on cancer patients at Baptist Health Louisville. Thanks to generous donations made each year, many barriers to care have been removed enabling our patients to focus on what matters most – their health,” said Justin Leighty, Executive Director of Baptist Health Foundation Greater Louisville.
The application process for Scholarships and Research/Service Grants in 2026 will begin in March 2026. For more information about KCRF, visit KCRF.org
KCRF was started in 2000 by a local Oldham Countian and Neuro-oncologist Renato V. La Rocca. Since that date KCRF has been dedicated to advancing cancer-related research, prevention and treatment as well as providing informative support to cancer patients and their families throughout the Kentuckiana area. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit serves the Louisville Metropolitan area.
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