Rachel Polinski of Sayre, fourth-year medical student at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, receives scholarship award

2017 Oct 12

The Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society awarded the Alliance Medical Education Scholarship (AMES) to Pennsylvania medical students. Among the recipients is Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine fourth-year student, Rachel Polinski of Sayre. She will receive the Dr. William J. West Jr Scholarship. The West Scholarship recognizes three generations of Pennsylvania Medical Society and Alliance leadership provided by the West family at the county, state and national levels. The scholarship is presented in memory of Dr. William B. West and in honor of Dr. William J. West and Joyce West.

Students will be presented with their awards at an event to be held Saturday, Oct. 14 at the Hershey Lodge, Hershey. The Pennsylvania Medical Society Alliance, a statewide volunteer group, is dedicated to healthy communities and the preservation of the doctor-patient relationship. The group has awarded its Alliance Medical Education Scholarship Fund for more than a decade to benefit deserving medical students.

The awards are possible thanks to contributions from Alliance members, general and memorial contributions. The organization also holds an annual fundraiser.

Polinski, of Sayre, plans to specialize in emergency medicine. She was also a 2016 recipient of this award.