“My time working in social work solidified my desire to be able to provide care for both physical and mental concerns as I saw the influence of physical health on mental health and vice versa.”

Cheryl Hershey is earning her Medical Doctorate at the University of Michigan. Raised on a Mennonite farm, Cheryl saw education as her way out of a community that valued tradition over curiosity — especially for women. Against her family’s wishes, Cheryl worked her way from her associate degree to her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work. Cheryl became estranged from her family and faced homelessness, food insecurity, and lack of medical care, but still, she persisted. She worked for several years as a social worker, including at the Veterans Health Administration of Ann Arbor, after receiving her degrees.

Cheryl never knew that women went to medical school until she had a female provider during her master’s in social work program. She realized that medical school was her path to make the greatest contribution to others. Cheryl writes, “My time working in social work solidified my desire to be able to provide care for both physical and mental concerns as I saw the influence of physical health on mental health and vice versa.” She matriculated at the University of Michigan Medical School in 2022.

During her medical training, Cheryl has become the mother of two children. Cheryl must balance the demands of medical school with her role as a mother. She has navigated health conditions and complications for herself and her children, and these personal challenges have deepened her commitment to improving maternal healthcare—particularly for underserved and marginalized women.

Cheryl’s vision extends beyond treating illness. Instead, she aspires to bridge medicine and public health by addressing the social, cultural, and economic factors shaping health outcomes. She plans to enter primary care, providing holistic health care for her patients.

CEW+ recognizes Cheryl’s resilience and names her the Virginia Simson Nelson Scholar.