Arsha Moorthy, a 2024 graduate of Mercer University and current second-year medical student, has been awarded the Virgil L. Tweedie Scholarship. The $10,000 national award is given annually to one member of Alpha Epsilon Delta, a health preprofessional honor society.
Moorthy said about receiving the scholarship, “It’s a reflection of all the encouragement, guidance and positivity that has been poured into my life by God, family, friends, mentors and professors at Mercer. As a first-generation immigrant child, and also the first in my family to pursue medicine, this award motivates me to continue to work hard to give back to those who will come after me.”
Originally from Flowery Branch, Moorthy is currently pursuing her medical degree at Mercer University School of Medicine on the Columbus campus. She plans to serve Georgia’s rural communities as a community-based surgeon but has not yet chosen her specialty.
During her undergraduate studies at Mercer University, Moorthy graduated summa cum laude with honors from both the university and her department. She was recognized as a Stamps Scholar and inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies. She participated in the Mercer Service Scholars program and served as president of Alpha Epsilon Delta.
Dr. Carol L. Bokros, director of pre-health professions advising for Mercer University, said: “Arsha was a dynamic leader in the Georgia Epsilon chapter of AED at Mercer, and traveled with me and several other students to the 46th AED Biennial Convention in Dallas last year. She represented Mercer University well at that event, serving as the chapter delegate and presenting her committee’s report to the entire membership at the National Business meeting. She was an exceptional student at Mercer and was the perfect choice for the Alpha Epsilon Delta Tweedie Scholarship.”
Moorthy also took part in two study-abroad programs as an undergraduate and received a Global Leadership Scholarship. She joined a Mercer On Mission trip to Mongolia where she helped lead an educational program for underserved children.
Currently in medical school, she serves on the Honor Council; is president of both the Surgery Interest Group and Ophthalmology Interest Group; acts as Aid for the Impaired Medical Student (AIMSS) representative; is vice-president of SOAR (Student Organization for the Advancement of Research and Service); and conducts research under Assistant Professor Dr. Seong Won Lee.
