Goodrich Scholarship Program (Endowed Healthcare
Great news for healthcare students in Georgia and beyond. Applications for the 18th annual Samuel M. Goodrich, M.D. Endowed Healthcare Scholarship are now officially open for 2026. This is a meaningful opportunity for students who are already on their way to a career in healthcare and could use some financial support to get across the finish line. If you are enrolled in a health care or health care-related program and meet the eligibility requirements, you will want to read every word of this article and apply before the June 1 deadline.
Whether you are a junior or senior in an undergraduate healthcare program or you have just been accepted into a graduate program in a health-related field, this scholarship was designed with students like you in mind. It is named after a real physician who spent his entire career serving a small Georgia community, and the values behind it reflect exactly that kind of dedication and commitment to patient care. Read on to get the full picture of what the Goodrich Scholarship is, who it is for, how to apply, and why it matters.
What Is the Samuel M. Goodrich, M.D. Endowed Healthcare Scholarship?
The Samuel M. Goodrich, M.D. Endowed Healthcare Scholarship is an annual scholarship established in 2008 in honor of Dr. Samuel M. Goodrich, a long-time OB-GYN physician who practiced medicine in Milledgeville, Georgia for nearly four decades. The scholarship is administered by the Navicent Health Foundation and is awarded to students enrolled in healthcare or healthcare-related fields of study who meet the eligibility criteria.
Now in its 18th year, the scholarship has already helped 65 students pursue their dreams in the healthcare field. That is 65 individuals who might have faced financial obstacles on their path to becoming nurses, doctors, healthcare administrators, medical technicians, or other healthcare professionals, and who received meaningful support thanks to this endowment.
The scholarship is not just a financial award. It carries a story behind it. It represents the life and legacy of a physician who gave everything to his community, and awarding it each year is a way of keeping his spirit alive in the next generation of healthcare workers.
Who Was Dr. Samuel M. Goodrich?
To truly understand why this scholarship matters, it helps to know a little about the man it is named after. Dr. Samuel M. Goodrich was a dedicated OB-GYN physician who served the Milledgeville, Georgia community for nearly 40 years. During his long career, he delivered thousands of babies and built a reputation for caring for his patients with deep commitment and compassion. He was not just practicing medicine. He was building relationships and investing in the health of a community.
What made Dr. Goodrich stand out was his drive to bring the most current advances in his medical specialty to Milledgeville. This was a community that could easily have been left behind when it came to cutting-edge healthcare, but Dr. Goodrich made sure that did not happen. He believed that patients in smaller cities deserved access to the same quality of care as those in major metropolitan areas, and he spent his career making that belief a reality.
Tragically, Dr. Goodrich lost a brief battle with pancreatic cancer in 2008, the same year the scholarship bearing his name was established. In creating this endowed scholarship, those who knew and admired him chose to honor his spirit of generosity, his unwavering belief in the physician-patient relationship, and his deep desire to see the best and brightest minds enter the healthcare professions. The scholarship is both a tribute to his memory and an investment in the kind of healthcare future he worked so hard to build.
About the Navicent Health Foundation
The Samuel M. Goodrich scholarship is administered by the Navicent Health Foundation, a philanthropic organization with deep roots in central Georgia. The foundation was chartered in 1973 with the mission of enabling community members to provide philanthropic support for charitable, medical, educational, and research projects connected to Atrium Health Navicent, which was formerly known as The Medical Center of Central Georgia.
Atrium Health Navicent is the leading provider of healthcare in central and south Georgia, offering high-quality, personalized care across 53 specialties at more than 50 facilities throughout the region. Since January 2019, Navicent Health has been part of Atrium Health, one of the largest integrated nonprofit health systems in the Southeast United States. This combination strengthened the ability of central Georgia’s healthcare providers to offer patients access to some of the nation’s leading medical specialists while keeping care local and accessible.
The Navicent Health Foundation itself was kept separate from that combination specifically to protect the investments of its donors and ensure that funds raised in central Georgia continue to benefit central Georgia communities. That commitment to local giving is exactly what the Goodrich Scholarship represents. Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin, the 140-bed hospital in Milledgeville that serves Baldwin, Hancock, and Wilkinson counties, is part of this larger network and reflects the deep roots this health system has in the communities it serves.
The Navicent Health Foundation’s CEO, Ellen Johnson, has spoken about the importance of recognizing and supporting scholarship recipients, describing them as future contributors to the healthcare field who carry forward a legacy of excellence and community care.
Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
Before you put together your application, it is important to understand who is eligible for the 2026 Samuel M. Goodrich, M.D. Endowed Healthcare Scholarship. Here is a clear breakdown of what the scholarship requires:
Field of Study
The scholarship is specifically for students enrolled in health care or health care-related fields of study. This is a broad category that can include nursing, medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, healthcare administration, public health, dental sciences, medical laboratory sciences, radiology, and many other disciplines connected to the delivery of healthcare services. If you are unsure whether your program qualifies as healthcare or healthcare-related, it is worth reaching out to the Navicent Health Foundation directly to ask.
Level of Study
Applicants must have completed a minimum of two years of study toward their healthcare program, OR they must have been accepted into a graduate program in a healthcare-related field. This means the scholarship is aimed at students who are already well into their educational journey rather than those just starting out. If you are a college freshman or sophomore in your first year, you may need to wait until you have completed two years of your program before applying. If you have already been accepted into a graduate program such as a master’s degree, a Doctor of Pharmacy program, medical school, or another advanced healthcare degree, you can apply regardless of how many undergraduate years you have completed.
Residency Preference
Preference is given to current or former residents of Baldwin County, Georgia. Baldwin County is home to Milledgeville, the community where Dr. Goodrich practiced throughout his career, and this preference reflects the scholarship’s roots in serving the people of that specific area. However, this is a preference and not an absolute requirement. The scholarship announcement clearly states that other qualified applicants outside of Baldwin County will also be considered. So if you do not live in Baldwin County, do not assume you are automatically disqualified. You should still apply and make a strong case for your candidacy.
Deadline
Applications for the 2026 Goodrich Scholarship must be received by June 1, 2026. This is a firm deadline, so do not wait until the last minute. Give yourself enough time to gather all required materials, write any required personal statements or essays, and submit a complete, polished application.
Why You Should Apply Even If You Are Not from Baldwin County
One of the most important things to understand about the Goodrich Scholarship is that being a Baldwin County resident gives you a preferred status, but it does not close the door to applicants from other parts of Georgia or beyond. The scholarship committee considers all qualified applicants, which means your application can and should reflect your strengths, your commitment to a healthcare career, and how you embody the values that Dr. Goodrich stood for throughout his life.
Think about what made Dr. Goodrich exceptional: his commitment to bringing the best care to an underserved community, his belief in the doctor-patient relationship, and his determination to support the next generation of healthcare professionals. If your story and your goals connect to those values, your application can stand out even without a Baldwin County address.
Healthcare workforce shortages are a significant issue across rural Georgia and much of the United States. Scholarship programs like this one play a critical role in ensuring that talented, motivated students can complete their training and go on to serve communities that need them most. If you are planning to work in underserved or rural communities, or if your healthcare career goals speak to the kind of mission-driven service Dr. Goodrich embodied, that is worth highlighting in your application.
How to Apply for the Goodrich Scholarship 2026
Applications for the Samuel M. Goodrich, M.D. Endowed Healthcare Scholarship are submitted through the Navicent Health Foundation’s official scholarship application platform. The process is straightforward, but you should take your time and put together the strongest application possible.
To apply, visit the Navicent Health Foundation Scholarships page and click the application link for the Samuel M. Goodrich Scholarship. You can also go directly to the Samuel M. Goodrich Scholarship Application Portal to begin your application.
Remember, the deadline is June 1, 2026. Applications must be received by that date to be considered. Late applications are unlikely to be reviewed, so plan ahead.
Tips for a Strong Application
While specific application requirements may vary, scholarship applications in the healthcare field typically require a personal statement, academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, and proof of enrollment or program acceptance. Here are some tips for making your application as strong as possible:
Tell your story clearly and specifically. Do not just say you want to work in healthcare. Explain why. Share a specific experience, moment, or person that shaped your decision to pursue this career. Scholarship reviewers read hundreds of applications, and the ones that stick are the ones that feel genuine and personal.
Connect your goals to the scholarship’s mission. The Goodrich Scholarship exists because Dr. Goodrich believed in accessible, high-quality healthcare for all patients and in mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals. If your goals align with community-centered healthcare, rural medicine, patient advocacy, or improving access to care, say so clearly and specifically.
Emphasize your commitment. Scholarship committees want to invest in students who are serious about completing their programs and entering the healthcare workforce. Show that you are on track, engaged in your studies, and motivated to see your education through to the end.
Highlight any connection to Baldwin County or Milledgeville. If you grew up in Baldwin County, currently live there, have family ties to the area, or have done any clinical training, volunteering, or community work in Milledgeville, make sure to mention it. Even if you are not a current resident, any meaningful connection to the community can strengthen your candidacy.
Submit early. Do not wait until May 31 to submit your application. Technical issues, incomplete documents, and last-minute discoveries of missing materials can all derail a late submission. Aim to have your application submitted at least one to two weeks before the June 1 deadline.
The Bigger Picture: Healthcare Scholarships and Why They Matter
The United States is facing a significant and growing shortage of healthcare workers. According to projections from health workforce researchers, the country could be short hundreds of thousands of registered nurses, primary care physicians, and other healthcare professionals in the coming decade. This shortage is especially acute in rural and underserved communities, exactly the kinds of places where a physician like Dr. Goodrich spent his career making a difference.
One of the biggest reasons talented students do not pursue healthcare careers, or drop out of healthcare programs before completing them, is the cost of education. Healthcare programs, particularly graduate-level programs in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and allied health fields, are among the most expensive in higher education. When students cannot afford to finish their training, communities lose the healthcare workers they desperately need.
Scholarships like the Samuel M. Goodrich, M.D. Endowed Healthcare Scholarship address this problem directly. By reducing the financial burden on students who are already committed to healthcare careers, the scholarship helps ensure that more people complete their training, enter the workforce, and go on to serve patients and communities for decades to come. Since its establishment in 2008, the Goodrich Scholarship has supported 65 students on exactly this kind of journey. That is 65 future nurses, doctors, therapists, administrators, and other healthcare professionals who received a meaningful push toward the finish line.
Now in its 18th year, the scholarship continues to grow its legacy. Each year’s recipients add to a growing network of healthcare professionals who have been supported by this endowment and who carry Dr. Goodrich’s commitment to compassionate, community-centered care into their own practices and workplaces.
Other Scholarships Offered by the Navicent Health Foundation
If you are interested in scholarships from the Navicent Health Foundation, it is worth knowing that the Goodrich Scholarship is not the only opportunity the foundation administers. There are two other scholarships currently listed on the foundation’s scholarships page, and depending on your background and circumstances, you may be eligible for more than one.
The OurTown Endowed Healthcare Scholarship was established in honor of Mr. Justin Kelly, owner and operator of Dairy Queen of Gray, Georgia, in recognition of his dedication and commitment to pediatric healthcare through his fundraising efforts for Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital. This scholarship is specifically for current seniors at Jones County High School in Gray, Georgia, who are pursuing a career in healthcare or a healthcare-related field. Preference is given to applicants who participate in school or community-sponsored philanthropy, with a special emphasis on those who take on leadership roles. The deadline for this scholarship is April 15.
The Walter T. Watkins Memorial Scholarship was established by Dr. John P. and Wanda W. Atkinson in memory of Wanda’s brother, Walter T. Watkins. This scholarship is an opportunity specifically for employees of Carlyle Place to improve their post-secondary educational background. The deadline for this scholarship is also June 1. If you are a Carlyle Place employee pursuing further education, this is a scholarship worth looking into.
To see all current scholarship opportunities from the Navicent Health Foundation and access the applications, visit the Navicent Health Foundation Scholarships page.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Goodrich Scholarship 2026
What is the deadline for the Goodrich Scholarship in 2026?
The deadline for the 2026 Samuel M. Goodrich, M.D. Endowed Healthcare Scholarship is June 1, 2026. Applications must be received by this date to be considered for the award.
Do I have to live in Baldwin County to apply?
No. Preference is given to current or former residents of Baldwin County, Georgia, but the scholarship is open to other qualified applicants as well. If you do not live in Baldwin County, you are still encouraged to apply, especially if your academic record, healthcare career goals, and personal story make a compelling case for your candidacy.
What healthcare fields are eligible?
The scholarship is open to students enrolled in healthcare or healthcare-related fields of study. This includes, but is not limited to, nursing, medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, public health, healthcare administration, dental sciences, medical laboratory sciences, respiratory therapy, radiology, and similar fields. If you are unsure whether your specific program qualifies, contact the Navicent Health Foundation to confirm before applying.
Can graduate students apply?
Yes. Students who have been accepted into a graduate healthcare program are eligible to apply, even if they have not yet completed two years of undergraduate study in a healthcare field. The eligibility requirement is either two years of undergraduate healthcare study OR acceptance into a graduate healthcare program.
How many students have received the Goodrich Scholarship since it started?
Since the scholarship was established in 2008, 65 students have received the Samuel M. Goodrich, M.D. Endowed Healthcare Scholarship. This is the 18th annual cycle of the award.
Who administers the Goodrich Scholarship?
The scholarship is administered by the Navicent Health Foundation, a philanthropic organization based in Macon, Georgia that supports Atrium Health Navicent and its surrounding communities. The foundation was chartered in 1973 and has a long history of supporting healthcare education and community health initiatives in central and south Georgia.
Is the Goodrich Scholarship renewable?
The scholarship listing does not specify whether the award is renewable. If you have questions about renewal eligibility, contact the Navicent Health Foundation directly at their office in Macon, Georgia at 478-633-4483 or through the contact form on their website.
Other Healthcare Scholarships You Should Know About
If you are a healthcare student looking for scholarship funding, the Goodrich Scholarship is a great opportunity, but it should not be the only one on your list. There are numerous other scholarships available to healthcare students at the local, state, and national level. Here are some additional directions worth exploring:
Federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Scholarships: HRSA offers programs like the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program, which provides scholarships to students in primary care healthcare fields in exchange for a commitment to serve in a Health Professional Shortage Area after graduation. This is a strong option for students who plan to work in underserved communities.
State of Georgia Scholarship Programs: Georgia has several state-funded scholarship and loan repayment programs aimed at increasing the healthcare workforce in rural and underserved areas. The Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce oversees several of these initiatives, including programs for medical students, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants who commit to serving in Georgia communities with critical shortages.
Professional Association Scholarships: Virtually every healthcare profession has one or more professional associations that offer scholarships to students in their field. Nursing students can look at programs from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) or the National Student Nurses Association (NSNA). Pre-med students can explore scholarships through the American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation. Physical therapy students should look into scholarships from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Whatever your specific healthcare career path, there is a professional organization that supports students in your field.
Hospital and Health System Scholarships: Many hospitals and health systems, like Atrium Health Navicent, offer scholarships to students in their communities or to students who commit to working at their facilities after graduation. Check with the major healthcare employers in your area to see what programs they offer.
FAFSA and Federal Student Aid: Do not overlook the basics. Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year is the foundation of any financial aid strategy. It determines your eligibility for federal grants like the Pell Grant, subsidized loans, and work-study programs. Many institutional scholarships also require FAFSA completion as part of the application process.
How to Make the Most of a Healthcare Scholarship
Winning a scholarship like the Goodrich award is a meaningful achievement, but it is also the beginning of a responsibility. Scholarships are investments in you and your future career, and the people who fund them are counting on you to follow through on your commitment to healthcare. Here are a few thoughts on how to honor that investment:
Stay focused on completing your program. The healthcare field needs people who finish what they start. If things get tough academically, reach out to your professors, academic advisors, and school support services rather than pulling back from your studies.
Engage with your community. Dr. Goodrich was defined by his relationship with the community he served. Whether you are still in school or just starting your career, look for ways to give back to the communities around you, through volunteering, mentoring, public health outreach, or simply being the kind of healthcare professional who takes the time to truly listen to patients.
Keep applying for additional funding. One scholarship rarely covers all the costs of a healthcare education. Keep searching for additional scholarships each year, and do not hesitate to apply for multiple awards. Stack funding where possible and always keep your FAFSA current.
Pay it forward. When you are established in your career, consider supporting scholarship programs like the one that helped you. Contributions to endowed scholarships like the Goodrich award ensure that future students have the same opportunities you did.
Final Thoughts: Do Not Miss the June 1 Deadline
The 18th annual Samuel M. Goodrich, M.D. Endowed Healthcare Scholarship is a genuinely special opportunity for healthcare students in Georgia and beyond. It carries the legacy of a physician who dedicated his life to his community and his patients, and it is administered by an organization that has spent more than 50 years investing in the health and wellbeing of central Georgia. Since 2008, it has supported 65 students on their path to becoming healthcare professionals, and the 2026 cycle is an opportunity for the next group of recipients to join that legacy.
If you are enrolled in a healthcare or healthcare-related program, have completed at least two years of undergraduate study or been accepted into a graduate program, and meet the other eligibility requirements, there is no good reason not to apply. The deadline is June 1, 2026, and applications are accepted through the Navicent Health Foundation’s online portal.
To learn more about the scholarship and submit your application, visit the Navicent Health Foundation Scholarships page. You can also go directly to the application using the Samuel M. Goodrich Scholarship direct application link.
Start your application today. The June 1 deadline is closer than you think, and this is one opportunity you do not want to miss.
