Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) and Jefferson Health’s Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) have established a Primary Care Scholarship Program to strengthen the region’s primary care workforce and support medical education.
PCOM Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) students Janita Aidonia (DO ’26), Alexander Polyakov (DO ’26) and Carly Shaffer (DO ’26) have been selected as this year’s scholarship recipients. Each will receive full tuition for their third and fourth years of medical school, along with book fees. In return, scholarship recipients commit to two years of full-time employment with Jefferson’s Lehigh Valley Physician Group (LVPG) after completing medical school and a residency or fellowship program.
“This partnership exemplifies our shared mission to advance health by investing in the education and development of compassionate, skilled physicians, especially in the family medicine setting,” said PCOM President and CEO Jay S. Feldstein, DO '81. “By partnering with a major healthcare provider like Jefferson Health, we are not only supporting our students but also addressing critical workforce needs in Pennsylvania communities.”
The Jefferson Health LVHN Selection Committee chooses recipients through a holistic review that considers academic achievement, professionalism, commitment to community health, and connection to the greater Lehigh Valley region.
“It is a true privilege to support the next generation of highly skilled, compassionate and dedicated physicians,” said Robert D. Barraco, MD, Chief Academic Officer, LVHN. “This unique initiative gives high-potential medical students from PCOM the opportunity to work among world-class physicians at LVHN while providing more options for patients in our community.”
Each of the recipients brings a strong connection to the Lehigh Valley and a deep commitment to primary care. Aidonia was drawn to Jefferson’s LVHN after hearing a physician reflect on a decades-long career marked by purpose and passion, affirming a personal goal of lifelong service through medicine.
Shaffer, a Lehigh Valley native and Muhlenberg College graduate, has engaged with LVHN as a student, researcher, and patient, and looks forward to serving the community through internal medicine.
Polyakov completed clinical rotations across the Jefferson Health LVHN system and is pursuing family medicine with a focus on preventive care, mental health integration, and patient advocacy.
“Being selected for this scholarship is incredibly meaningful. It’s not just financial support—it’s a sign that a team of physicians sees me, believes in me, and trusts in my ability to care for others,” Aidonia wrote in a personal essay. “I’ll never forget the moment I read the congratulations email or the feeling of signing my name on the employment agreement—right above the words ‘Position: Physician.’ This opportunity brings me one step closer to the career I’ve always dreamed of.”
A personal essay by Janita Aidonia (DO ’26)
I have wanted to be an OB-GYN since the age of three. Back then, I dreamed of being a surgeon, without yet understanding the full weight or meaning of that calling. As a child, this specialty was known to me as being a “baby doctor.” It would not be until nearly two decades later, during my master's in public health (MPH), that I would be reconciled with my purpose in obstetrics and gynecology.
The summer before I embarked on my MPH, I read a book written by a pediatrician called The Deepest Well. I learned about adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), their impact on the child's body, and even more, the physiological impact within adulthood. I learned how trauma is passed through generations. I also learned that access to quality and equitable mental health care and treatment was limited in almost every specialty, including psychiatry itself, and this had a more malignant impact on black and brown patients and communities.
My passion has always been centered around women and women’s health; learning about the state of mental health and what we currently offer as a medical field inspired me. After reflecting on my own childhood, growing up in a single-parent, low-income home, I could relate firsthand to what the book discussed, and I felt compelled and purposefully placed to help make a difference.
My dream is to target the maternal period to combat both the lack of access to care and the transmission of intergenerational trauma. If maternal patients can receive routine treatment and care for their personal mental health needs, they can not only have improved outcomes, but also decrease the risk of passing ACEs, trauma, and unhelpful coping skills to their children. If we can positively impact “mom”, we can positively impact the whole family.
This dream led me to collaborate with a team of OB-GYNs and maternal health providers on a research project focused on improving access to mental health care for maternal patients. Together, we developed and evaluated a curriculum designed to equip OB-GYN residents with the tools to identify and address low-level mental health concerns in their patients.
I will be an OB-GYN and Public Health Scientist who puts together community programs for women. One who implements trauma-informed and preventative care. To use my MPH skills and my concentration in policy and advocacy to advocate and develop policies for my patients.
The Primary Care Scholarship Program with Jefferson Health’s Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) holds so much purpose for me. In it, I was chosen; selected by a team of physicians, specifically, OB-GYNs. To me, this means that they see me, they believe in me and my capabilities, and the work that I aspire to do.
I will never forget the moment I opened the congratulations email. I will always remember the day I signed the employment agreement; my name was listed at the top, “Janita Aidonia,” and under it, written, “Position: Physician.” This is a dream come true.
Established in 1899, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
For general media inquiries, please contact the Office of Marketing and Communications at 215-871-6300 or communications@pcom.edu. Visit our media relations page to view contact information for public relations personnel.
Ally Wengel
Public Relations Manager
Office of Marketing and Communications
Email: allywe@pcom.edu
Office: 215-871-6325
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