CAS CONNECT 2014

When the OSU Medical Cowboys program was established in 2007, Dr. Barry Pollard not only saw an opportunity to help pre-med students financially but also to create a network of medical professionals who shared his passion for Oklahoma State University. Entering its seventh year, the program is playing out that vision. One of the first recipients of the scholarship was Kayeleigh Stallings, who is entering her third year at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center after graduating from OSU in 2012 with a degree in biological sciences. She was a standout high-school student who flourished at OSU, thanks in large part to financial flexibility from the scholarship. “If I hadn’t had the scholarship, I would have had to get a part-time job and that would have prevented me from doing all the extra- curricular activities I valued so much,” she said. The extra-curricular activities were critical in preparing her for medical school, as was her flawless 4.0 grade point average. She served as an active member of the College of Arts & Sciences Student Council, led the college’s peer mentorship program for two years, and worked closely with A&S faculty. She was also heavily involved in Greek life at OSU and, during her senior year, worked in a microbiology lab — something she did not expect to be able to do as an undergrad. Best yet, the scholarship put her in contact with the Medical Cowboys committee, including regular correspondence with Pollard, who heads the program. Like Stallings, Pollard graduated from OSU. He has excelled as a neurosurgeon in Enid, Okla., and created the Medical Cowboys program with the OSU Foundation to raise awareness of OSU’s role in developing medical professionals. “Primarily we’re looking for students who have a desire to be in the field of medicine and understand the devotion it takes to dedicate their lives to that,” Pollard said. Several scholarships are available each year, with some taking into account financial need and others targeting a specific area of the state. The latter is designed to reach what Pollard considers a critical audience in Oklahoma. “We need to recruit from rural areas as those students are more likely to go back to those areas to practice medicine,” he said. The Medical Cowboys program continues to grow and still has room to expand. Pollard, having seen the impact of pooling resources, notes ways interested parties can contribute: through the general fund, the annual giving program, and by taking advantage of available matching funds. A recent class of unofficial “medical cowboys” went in together on a donation. “As a group, we try to help anyone who wants to contribute,” Pollard said. It is the “group” that gives Medical Cowboys its power. Whether pooling funding to create significant scholarships or creating a network of OSU-educated medical professionals, Pollard and the OSU Foundation have blazed a trail for future Medical Cowboys. MEDI CAL COWBOYS T R E A T S C H O L A R S H I P N E E D BY BRIAN PETROTTA