Cascade Medical Employees receive scholarships in honor of former administrator

LEAVENWORTH - Cascade Medical Foundation has launched a new scholarship program to honor former administrator Mark Judy and support the professional growth of healthcare professionals. The Mark Judy Memorial Caregiver Education Fund has awarded a total of $2,500 in scholarships to three Cascade Medical employees.

Taylar Hendrickson, a certified medical assistant, received $750 to help with prerequisite courses for the registered nursing (RN) program at Wenatchee Valley College. Brandi Weems, an X-ray and CT tech, was awarded $750 for education and registry exam fees for CT (computed tomography), which includes X-rays, ultrasound, and CAT scans. Janeth Baltazar Lopez, a financial counselor at Cascade Medical, received $1,000 to complete a national billing certification.

The scholarships, announced in late March, are the first to be awarded from the education fund created last year by Cascade Medical Foundation in honor of Mark Judy, who passed away in March 2023. 

“In his 45 years as a hospital administrator, including several years at Cascade Medical, the most important thing to him was his staff,” said Terri Judy, who continues to serve on the Foundation board and is co-chair of CMF’s education fund committee. “He wanted everyone to rise up to their potential. He would be thrilled at this opportunity to help you, as the first recipients, and to the others that will follow.”

The new scholarship program also benefits Cascade Medical.

“The nature of the healthcare industry, with its scarce workforce and rapidly evolving demands,

means continuing education is a critical focus for healthcare organizations,” Cascade CEO Diane Blake said. “This effort, by the Foundation, generous donors and Mark’s family, not only helps us invest in highly skilled and difficult-to-recruit employees, but it also sends a message to our staff of the value our community places on them and their professional growth.”

The scholarship winners were selected by a committee of four Foundation members and two Cascade Medical staff members, considering criteria such as education and career plans, financial need, and whether the training fills a strategic or personnel need for Cascade Medical.

The education fund, currently at about $40,000, aims to provide annual scholarships in perpetuity. Contributions to the core fund included a $6,000 Regional Improvement Grant from the Community Foundation of NCW and a $10,000 grant from the family of Cascade Medical Commissioner Bruce Williams. The next scholarship application period will open in January 2025.

To make a donation or learn more about Mark Judy and the education fund, visit cascademedicalfoundation.org/mark-judy-memorial-caregiver-education-fund.