The Dr. Bill Gonzaba Endowed Scholarship for Healthcare Leadership and Innovation in Health Administration
Investing in the Healthcare Leadership of Tomorrow
The Dr. Bill Gonzaba Endowed Scholarship for Healthcare Leadership and Innovation in Health Administration provides scholarship support to minority, first-generation students seeking a graduate-level degree in Health Administration at UIW.
While there have been increases in the number of minorities pursuing graduate degrees in health administration, in 2018 only 18.5% of students attending Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) graduate programs were black and only 8.9% were Hispanic. This scholarship aims to ensure diversity of qualified students in our MHA program with the goal of producing graduates prepared to serve in senior leadership positions in healthcare organizations across the country.
The endowment was established in 2020 with a $50,000 gift from Gonzaba Medical Group. It is named in honor of Dr. William "Bill" Gonzaba, the founder and CEO of Gonzaba Medical Group, which has served San Antonio for more than 60 years.
Students apply for this scholarship during their first semester whereby one student is selected for the scholarship award, which typically amounts to four percent of the initial investment. Larger scholarships will be possible in the future as the endowment continues to increase in value.
If you'd like to learn more about the Dr. Bill Gonzaba Endowed Scholarship, please contact the MHA Program Director, Dr. Chris Nesser at decima.nesser@uiwtx.edu.
Gonzaba Medical Group is one of the largest senior primary care and specialty care medical groups in San Antonio. The organization has three comprehensive medical centers and four neighborhood clinics, employing more than 700 medical professionals. Gonzaba Medical Group has also expanded to offer urgent care, specialist care, preventative services and end-of-life care.
With a demonstrated commitment to the communities it serves, Gonzaba Medical Group has earned the Gold Seal from the Joint Commission and is among the highest-rated providers by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.
UIW’s lasting partnership with Gonzaba Medical Group
The Master of Health Administration program partners with Gonzaba Medical Group to place students in its practices through the Graduate Assistantship Program, part of the MHA curriculum. Graduate assistants spend an average of 15 hours each week during their final two semesters at their host practice while also attending classes.
This partnership has provided excellent opportunities for MHA students to gain real-world experience at an organization that has an exceptional and comprehensive approach to coordinated care.