Recognizing the vital importance of continuous learning in healthcare, the Mary Lindquist Auxiliary Scholarship Endowment was established in 2008. Interest generated by this permanent endowment fund is distributed three times annually to help hospital associates and clinical staff pursue advanced degrees, national certifications, and specialized clinical conferences.
By funding these educational opportunities, the Manhattan Community Health Foundation actively addresses the regional shortage of specialized healthcare talent, elevates bedside standards of care, and supports our frontline clinical staff.
Meet the July 2026 Scholars
Pharmacy & Diabetes Education
Brittany Beach | Advanced Pharmacy Technician Advocate (Pharmacy)
- Educational Opportunity: ASHP Medication History-Taking Training Program & PTCB Medication History Certificate
- Community Impact: Brittany will utilize this training to obtain precise medication histories for hospitalized patients, aiding medication reconciliation, improving Leapfrog audit standards, and preventing dangerous drug errors.
Joyce Chumo, RN | Diabetes Educator Nurse (Diabetes Education Center)
- Educational Opportunity: Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) Certification Boot Camp
- Community Impact: Earning her CDCES credential will equip Joyce with advanced, evidence-based tools to guide patients through new diabetes diagnoses, build their self-management confidence, and deliver holistic care across Riley County.
Medical & Nursing Specialties
Raegan McMillen, RN | Charge Nurse & Registered Nurse (3rd Floor Medical Unit)
- Educational Opportunity: Medical-Surgical Specialty Certification & Certified Hospice/Palliative Nurse Certification
- Community Impact: Raegan is bringing the medical unit its first Med/Surg specialty certification. As a designated “comfort care nurse,” her palliative care training will provide critical support, guidance, and dignity to end-of-life patients and their families.
Rehabilitation, Physical & Occupational Therapy
Parkinson’s Disease Multidisciplinary Care Team * Scholars: Jason Wollenberg, OT (Lead Occupational Therapist), Samantha Davis, CPTA (Clinic Lead & Physical Therapist Assistant), and Sara Dirks, SLP (Speech Language Pathologist)
- Educational Opportunity: Parkinson’s Foundation Allied Health Team Training (Reston, VA)
- Community Impact: This cross-disciplinary team will gain the latest evidence-based techniques to coordinate care across physical, occupational, and speech therapies, improving functional independence and quality of life for local residents living with Parkinson’s disease.
Department-Wide Hip Pathology Specialty Cohort * Scholars: Eric Melander, PT (Director of Rehab), Nick Long, PT (Lead PT), Megan Engle, PT, Lindsay Wright, PT, and Jarrett Stanton, PTA
- Educational Opportunity: International Academy of Orthopedic Medicine (IAOM) – Differential Diagnosis and Treatment of Hip Pathologies
- Community Impact: Hosted directly at our McCall clinic, this department-wide training unifies our therapy staff around gold-standard manual therapy and diagnostic techniques for hip injuries, ensuring seamless, high-quality rehab for athletes and senior patients alike.
Emily Nichols, PT, DPT | Physical Therapist (Rehab Services)
- Educational Opportunity: Vestibular First Advanced Online Education
- Community Impact: Emily is expanding her role as the premier local expert in vestibular rehabilitation, using updated research-backed techniques to help patients recover from complex balance, inner ear, and dizziness disorders faster and with fewer medical expenses.
Rikki Seeberger, OT | Occupational Therapist (Acute & Inpatient Rehab)
- Educational Opportunity: Kansas Occupational Therapy Association (KOTA) Annual Conference 2026
- Community Impact: Rikki is gaining specialized in-person training in home modification strategies to prevent hospital readmissions, as well as evidence-based occupational therapy interventions for chronic pain and cognitive rehabilitation.
About the Scholarship
The Mary Lindquist Auxiliary Scholarship honors the legacy of Mary Lindquist, whose family wished to keep her memory alive by supporting the employees and patients of the hospital she loved. As Dr. Molly Disbrow states, the goal is “providing scholarships for all kinds of different credentialing… so we can all continue to serve our community”.