American Specialty Health Awards Scholarship to Tri-State College of Acupuncture Student

SAN DIEGO, CA (January 1, 2003)—American Specialty Health, Incorporated, the nation’s leading complementary health services organization, announced the second winner of its scholarship award for students pursuing careers in the complementary health care field. Ines Moeller, a second-year acupuncture student at Tri-State College of Acupuncture in New York, New York, won the $5,000 award with her essay "Integration of Complementary Healthcare Providers into the Health Care Delivery System: What is Your Vision for the Next 5-10 Years?"

Criteria for the scholarships include grade point average, a written essay and financial need, as well as the student's participation in activities that promote their respective profession to both the health care community and the public their profession serves.

"Our sincere appreciation goes out to all the entrants/students who wrote such excellent essays on their vision for the integration of complementary health care. We congratulate Ms. Moeller for creating an outstanding paper," said George DeVries, chairman, president and chief executive officer of American Specialty Health. "We are extremely pleased to be able to offer these scholarships which recognize academic excellence and enthusiasm towards complementary health care."

Students pursuing careers in various aspects of complementary health care may apply for scholarships totaling $45,000 each through the American Specialty Health scholarship program. Qualifying students are those studying chiropractic, dietetics, naturopathy, massage therapy or acupuncture at any accredited institution in the country. Up to 12 scholarships are awarded annually.

"This program helps broaden our commitment to education by providing financial assistance to those who will one day become our leaders," DeVries said.

Information on the scholarship program and applications may be found at www.ashproviders.com.

Based in San Diego, American Specialty Health and its affiliates provide specialty benefit plans, educational programs and affinity discount programs nationwide to health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups and trust funds. Its affiliate American Specialty Health Plans® of California, Inc is the nation's first and largest specialty health plan for chiropractic and acupuncture services, operating in California. American Specialty Health has nearly 500 employees and covers more than 15 million members nationwide under benefit programs.