St. Charles Foundation scholarships fuel health care careers

28 individuals received $90K in scholarships in 2024

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- In 2024, St. Charles Foundation awarded nearly $90,000 in scholarships to 28 individuals pursuing health care careers, helping St. Charles caregivers and community members pursue secondary education and training in nursing, pharmacy, phlebotomy, Medical Assistant training and more.

Here's a news release we received this week about the scholarships:

Jordan Machtelinckx, who currently serves as a tech in the Emergency Department at St. Charles Bend, received a $5,250 scholarship to pursue a Bachelor of Science of Nursing degree through a new accelerated BSN program in Bend through Oregon Health & Sciences University.

He is the first recipient of the new Dr. Lowery-North Nursing Scholarship and Education Fund, which was established in honor of Dr. Doug Lowery-North who practiced emergency medicine for three decades and served as a flight surgeon in the Air National Guard.  

Machtelinckx says the scholarship makes a meaningful impact on his life.

“It makes a huge difference and eases the stress, allowing me to focus on the education,” said Machtelinckx.

The 33-year-old Bend resident also volunteers with Deschutes County Search and Rescue and has a long history of being involved in wilderness medicine. He hopes to continue to work at St. Charles after graduating from the program later this year.

St. Charles Foundation Director Jenny O’Bryan says funding scholarships is a way to help fuel health care careers and give St. Charles caregivers an opportunity to expand and grow in their professions.

“Through this scholarship program, Foundation donors are helping community members pursue their dreams while also growing our health care workforce. It’s a wonderful program worth celebrating,” said O’Bryan.   

The scholarship fund is one of many ways the Foundation helps support the health of Central Oregonians. Learn more about the efforts of the St. Charles Foundation: https://foundation.stcharleshealthcare.org/.  

About St. Charles Foundation

The mission of St. Charles Foundation is to support St. Charles Health System in the delivery and advancement of world-class health care in Central Oregon and achieve its strategic goals. Philanthropic donations fund innovation in programming, building expansions and initiatives that improve the patient experience. The St. Charles Foundation works with the community to develop and steward philanthropic resources to fund programs and capital projects that improve health, prevent disease, enhance quality of life and provide the highest quality care possible for all St. Charles patients now and in the future.