Regina Benjamin, has a background in rural health. How might that impact NHSC?
Well, you know, it’s a great question. I’m really pleased to able to say that she is a National Health Service Corps Scholar, so she is now an alumnus. She is the first Surgeon General nominee that has ever participated in the National Health Service Corps program. She specifically mentioned the National Health Service Corps in the Rose Garden in her prepared remarks when the President announced her nomination. I believe that she will serve as a tremendous role model for encouraging primary care providers to go and work in underserved communities. She’s received a lot of awards, but she still returned to her small community in Bayou La Batre, Alabama, saying that’s where she wants to practice medicine and I think she will be a role model for primary care providers who may be saying, “Is this something for me?” And quite frankly, we are just thrilled to death that she continues to mention the National Health Service Corps. And it fits so well with the President’s agenda, you know, the i
