Future physician assistants studying at the West Virginia University School of Medicine will benefit from a $50,000 scholarship gift made by Drs. Jennifer and Moe Momen.
The Momens established the scholarship to support the cost of attendance for students in the Physician Assistant Studies program, helping to ease the financial burden of obtaining their degree.
“As a relatively new program, there were no scholarships available specifically for physician assistant students,” said Jennifer Momen, director of the Physician Assistant Studies program. “For students in the program with financial obstacles, our hope is that this scholarship will provide the comfort of knowing that someone is invested in their success.”
The Momen Physician Assistant Studies Scholarship will be awarded to West Virginia resident students who are making satisfactory academic progress and who demonstrate financial need.
The Physician Assistant Studies program at WVU was established in 2020 to fulfill a critical need for healthcare providers and has a focus on health disparity and rural and Appalachian health issues. The program has now graduated two cohorts of physician assistants, with many of those graduates providing medical care to patients in rural and underserved areas within West Virginia.
“Knowing that our graduates are utilizing their knowledge and skills to improve the health and quality of life for patients in need is one of the most gratifying aspects of my involvement with the program,” Jennifer said. “When I talk with our students, I am humbled by their dedication to providing patient-centered care and working to remedy healthcare disparities. We hope that this scholarship will help to support students who share our mission to improve the health and quality of life for patients in West Virginia and beyond.”
As graduates of WVU, Jennifer and Moe believe it is important to give back in any way they can. Jennifer – who also earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and a medical degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo – holds a master’s degree in public health from WVU, and Moe is a graduate of the WVU School of Dentistry.
“Moe and I are both very grateful for the opportunities the University has provided to us,” Jennifer Momen said.
“We are a family of WVU graduates and expect that there will be many more Mountaineers in the family throughout the years. Giving back to the University is our way of saying thank you and helping others to experience the many opportunities for learning and service offered by the University. The rewards associated with giving back only motivate us to seek more opportunities to share our good fortune. Through continued giving, we hope to support a culture of giving at the University.”
Previously, the Momens established an endowed scholarship to support students in the WVU School of Dentistry who show empathy and strive to help others. Each year, their gift provides graduate scholarships to two fourth-year students who demonstrate a commitment to compassionate care.
The Momens’ gift was made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University.