Two employees receive Dr. William H. Butler Sr. Scholarship for Healthcare Career Advancement

Two Hendrick Health employees recently received a scholarship from Hendrick Health Foundation to assist with their pursuits of healthcare careers.

Marcavia Banda, a specialty technician in the Emergency Department (ED) at Hendrick Medical Center South (HMCS), and Jesenia Morales, an administrative coordinator in the Structural Heart Clinic at Hendrick Medical Center (HMC), were awarded the Dr. William H. Butler Sr. Scholarship for Healthcare Career Advancement. The scholarship’s namesake was born in 1875 and served as Abilene’s first practicing black physician, initially providing care out of his house in 1914.

Banda began her career at Hendrick Health eight years ago as a transporter in the ED and later became a certified nursing assistant. She currently is enrolled at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center to become a registered nurse and earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

“My goal is to advance within the organization, pursue certifications in emergency or critical care nursing, and eventually contribute to staff development by mentoring new nurses entering the field,” said Banda.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems, Morales joined Hendrick Health in a nonclinical support role because of a curiosity of a medical career, a desire to help and a willingness to learn. After discovering her analytical background dovetailed with cardiology imaging, she began studying prerequisites at Galveston College to become an echocardiogram technician. The role involves providing live ultrasound images of the heart and cardiovascular system.

“Being a part of a patient’s health journey, even in the background, has given me a deep sense of purpose,” said Morales.

The Dr. William H. Butler Sr. Scholarship for Healthcare Career Advancement, first awarded in 2023, is one of several Hendrick Health programs to assist employees enrolled in healthcare-related educational programs to advance their careers. To learn more about Hendrick Health’s workforce development initiatives, visit hendrickhealth.org/workforce.
 

PHOTO: Marcavia Banda, a specialty technician in the Emergency Department (ED) at Hendrick Medical Center South (HMCS), hold her scholarship certificate.

PHOTO: Jesenia Morales, an administrative coordinator in the Structural Heart Clinic at Hendrick Medical Center (HMC), hold her scholarship certificate.