This scholarship was founded in 2023 in memory of Dr. Judith P. Osha, who was a celebrated pediatrician and pioneer for women in science careers, a physics researcher, an associate professor at Georgetown University, a world traveller and supporter of community building worldwide, and JenOsha’s mom.
Dr. Osha has been supporting the dreams of Mountain SOL since the beginning, but she was especially passionate about the first aid classes. She cared deeply about helping people and communities in need, and she recognized that many people have more limited access to the medical system, and that simple first aid skills play an important role in getting people the help they need. Dr. Osha helped advise when JenOsha first began offering first-aid classes to Jaguares and Zorros, and her influence greatly shaped Mountain SOL’s Responder path. Since then, Mountain SOL has solidified the medic units into repeatable classes, taught those classes many times, and also trained the next generation of first aid teachers. Several of the oldest Mountain SOL Responder students have gone on to gain other advanced certifications (AWFA, herbalism, etc.) and become EMTs and Paramedics.
Beginning in 2021, Mountain SOL began offering biannual Wilderness First Aid classes, also led by JenOsha. Dr. Osha was immensely supportive of this endeavor, helping advise on the class materials and also contributing financially to support the class. Dr. Osha passed away in May 2022, and in May 2023 David and Katie McCoy started the Dr. Judy Osha First Aid Scholarship Fund in her honor. This fund is used to directly support Wilderness First Aid classes, including cost of books and certification cards, prep time, and teaching hours.
If you would like to donate to the Dr. Judy Osha First Aid Scholarship Fund, you can do so here:
Donate Portal for Dr. Judy Osha First Aid Scholarship Fund
We deeply appreciate your help, you are what makes these programs possible.
