Bernhard H. Singsen Scholarship

The Bernhard H. Singsen Scholarship Fund was established by Dr. Bernhard Singsen to support young men graduating from San Luis Obispo County High Schools planning to pursue a degree resulting in a career in medicine, civil service, or education. Bern was raised in a UConn science faculty family, loved his liberal arts education at Oberlin College, and obtained a BA degree in Economics. A wise mentor counseled him that a career in academic medicine could combine teaching, research, his love of writing, and a humanistic approach to medical practice. He attended NYU Medical School, while financing his education, and enjoyed the cultural and social diversity of living in New York City. He then moved to Los Angeles for residency followed by a pediatric rheumatology fellowship at Children’s Hospital. He then served as a Vietnam era Navy Lt. Commander doing pediatrics at a Marine Corps Air Station. Bern spent 37 years as a teacher/ clinician physician scientist, first at USC, then the University of Missouri, Jefferson Medical College, The Cleveland Clinic, and finally Oakland Children’s Hospital/UCSF. He became a tenured full professor, collaborated with colleagues to publish 200+ peer reviewed articles, abstracts and book chapters, and joined several medical journal editorial Boards. Bern felt that the real joys were in teaching students and residents. Bern worked daily with children with inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders. And with 30 years of new discoveries led from a largely palliative approach to children with disabilities to a time when new tests and medicines allowed most new diagnoses to be largely curable. Bern said that, “The ‘wonder’ of that progress over a career is what one hopes will come to each of the recipients of this scholarship.” Athletics have been central to Dr. Singsen’s life including tennis, basketball, track, skiing, scuba diving, biking, and running. He took a mid-career sabbatical, designed to hone skills in health services research, at Johns Hopkins University which led to a Masters of Public Health degree. Although very rewarding, after decades of 12-hour workdays, Bern decided to retire in San Luis Obispo, where several friends from his residency years live. Bern became excited about his new career, as the Deputy Public Health Officer for SLO County. Throughout, Dr. Singsen has serviced on multiple non-profit Boards. “An important goal of this scholarship is also to give its recipients a broad-based perspective on the importance of life-long community service.”- Dr. Singsen

Open to graduating male seniors from a San Luis Obispo County high school pursuing a career in medicine, civil service or service or education at a four-year liberal arts college or university. Minimum GPA 3.75. Financial need.