UK PT Student is Recipient of ASAHP Scholarship

By Ella Rosner
CHS Contributor

Isabel Fairbanks, a third-year graduate student in UK’s Physical Therapy program, is the recipient of a 2024 Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP) scholarship. Fairbanks was one of eight students selected to receive the $1,000 Scholarship of Excellence Award.  

The ASAHP was created in Washington, D.C. in September 1967 as a not-for-profit national professional association for administrators, educators and others who were concerned with critical issues affecting allied health education. Their ultimate goal is “to recognize outstanding students in the health professions who are achieving excellence in their academic programs and have significant potential to assume future leadership roles in health professions.”  

Fairbanks, who is from Highland, Mich., completed her undergraduate degree at the University of South Dakota. As an out-of-state graduate student, she said she is “super grateful for any scholarships that I receive and the contribution they have toward funding my education.” 

Criteria for Selection included:  

• Candidates must be enrolled in a degree-granting program 
• Candidate must have successfully completed one term at an institutional member of ASAHP  
• A one-page essay that explains why they would like to pursue their health profession  

“Being the student chosen to be nominated for a prestigious national scholarship from UK was an honor in itself,” Fairbanks said. “After finding out that I had been one of the eight students chosen as a recipient of the scholarship, I was both shocked and grateful.”  

Fairbanks came to UK’s Physical Therapy program looking for the “big SEC school atmosphere,” and because she felt UK’s DPT program shared many of the qualities she was looking for in a graduate program.  

“I have always prioritized service, and with UK PT, I am able to be involved with both the pro-bono student run clinic, Samaritan’s Touch, and travel to Ecuador to provide PT services to an underserved community,” Fairbanks said. “Once I learned of these service opportunities, as well as connected with faculty and students during the interview, it was an easy decision to choose to attend UK.” 

Congratulations to Isabel!