MILWAUKEE — Dalicia Simpson is in her first year of medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin. She completed undergrad at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

Simpson grew up on Milwaukee's north side and she said she is excited to be back home. 

What You Need To Know

  • The MCW launched a new program called the Health Equity Scholars Program

  • The program’s goal is to increase the number of physicians who choose to practice medicine in Milwaukee and care for underserved, at-risk populations in the city

  • Five first-year medical students were chosen for the program 

  • The program also includes a full tuition scholarship, free room and board and seminars on how to navigate the challenges and systems of caring for at-risk communities

“Regardless, if I’m able to stay here or not for residency, I do have a goal of coming back here as a physician opening up my own clinic if I can,” said Simpson. 

Simpson is one of the five first-year medical students chosen to be part of the Health Equity Scholars Program. 

The program’s goal is to increase the number of physicians who choose to practice medicine in Milwaukee and care for underserved, at-risk populations in the city. 

“There are so many people in minority groups that don’t have good contact with their doctors, with their medical providers in general,” said Simpson. “We’re learning how to be good doctors in a sense. To be good people to the patients we’re going to serve and why that’s important for people that look like us to serve them as well.” 

The program also includes a full tuition scholarship, free room and board at the ThriveOn King building in the Bronzeville neighborhood and seminars on how to navigate the challenges and systems of caring for at-risk communities.

The program is being funded by The Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment, the Green Bay Packers Foundation, the Herd-Barber Family, Lisa and Greg Wesley, and The Yellin Center.

“If students have access to a curriculum that focuses on health equity so that when they graduate, they feel like experts in health equity,” said Dr. Cassie Ferguson, co-director of the Health Equity Scholars Program. “Experts in helping reduce health care disparities they’re more likely to practice n these areas.”

Ferguson said out of the 33 city of Milwaukee zip codes, twelve are in a health professional shortage, with fewer than one full-time physicians caring for more than $3,000.

“These students who will be trained in one of those health professional shortage areas will not only train in medicine but will come to know that area specifically,” said Ferguson. “They will know where the grocery stores are. They will know where the yoga studios are.”

Making it easier to connect with their patients. Simpson said that is one of her goals.

“I want to be a physician that everybody feels comfortable coming to and having confidence that I will help them in the way that they need to be helped,” said Simpson. 

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