Eric Musgrave: Bridging Dreams and Advancing Health Equity

Southern California University student Eric Musgrave is one of only 10 graduate students in the United States to receive the Bridging the Dream Scholarship offered by Sallie Mae in partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund to help increase access to higher education for underserved and underrepresented students. Eric’s academic achievements, leadership abilities, and community engagement weighed heavily into the selection process.

We had an opportunity to interview Eric to celebrate his accomplishments and learn more about how he hopes to make a difference in his community.

Can you share a bit about your background and what led you to pursue your studies at SCU?

Eric: “Greetings. My name is Eric Musgrave, and I am a term two student in SCU’s D.C. Program (10-Term Track). Beginning in high school, I developed a curiosity in chiropractic care. The prospect of alternative medicine not involving drugs/surgery intrigued me. Soon after receiving my first chiropractic adjustment, I knew that it was a potential career path for me. I grew up in South Central Los Angeles and attended UCLA as an undergraduate, where I received my B.S. in Physiology. Though I pondered between physical therapy and chiropractic, I ultimately decided on chiropractic as the next step in my educational journey. I am a fan of the autonomy of the profession, and SCU’s Sports Medicine Emphasis also stuck out to me. Given that I lived in Los Angeles, SCU was a no-brainer choice for chiropractic school.”

What inspired you to apply for the Bridging the Dream Health Equity Scholarship, and how will it help you achieve your goals?

Eric: “I was well aware that I would be attending SCU at the start of last year, and throughout my time at UCLA, I was blessed to receive a cumulative full scholarship based on my academic success in high school. I knew a doctorate program would be expensive, so I began looking for ways to fund my continuing education. The Bridging the Dream Scholarship was one of the few that I found for which I was eligible. Most healthcare scholarships are specific to medical or dental school, so finding one that I was eligible to apply for was great. The Bridging the Dream scholarship will aid in decreasing some of the financial stress caused by my continuing education. It will provide me with much-needed support throughout my time at SCU.”

Have you had any opportunities at SCU to work with diverse or underserved populations or on projects to address health disparities? If so, can you share an example and tell us how it has shaped your perspective on health and health equity?

Eric: “I am new to SCU, so I have not yet had the opportunity to work with diverse and underserved populations. However, it is something that I greatly look forward to. While at UCLA, I worked as a mentor for underrepresented high school students, where I provided academic counseling, aspirational capital, and tutoring to students in UCLA’s Vice Provost’s Initiative for Pre-College Scholars (VIPS). I completed VIPS as a high school student, so giving back to the program that aided me was very important to me. I plan to address health disparities through my profession, and I am hopeful that my previous experiences will aid me in doing so.”

Sadly, there are seemingly endless examples of inequities in our healthcare system. Are there any specific areas that you hope to address in your future career to advance health equity?

Eric: “A specific area of healthcare I plan on addressing as a chiropractor is the lack of knowledge and access to chiropractic care in impoverished communities. Medicare is known for paying out notoriously low for chiropractic treatment, which leads many doctors to 1. Rush Medicare patients while in the clinic and not perform to the best of their abilities, or 2. Become cash-based. This often excludes impoverished communities from receiving adequate chiropractic care when they seek it out. I hope to find a solution that satisfies chiropractors and provides chiropractic care to a larger demographic so that it helps those who cannot afford care otherwise.”

What motivates you to keep pushing forward, even in challenging times? Is there a particular quote or philosophy that guides your life?

Eric: “When I am down and enduring challenging times, I think about those before me, such as my parents, whose struggles were much greater than mine. It is because of their support and sacrifice that I am in the position I am. This encourages me to go forward and continue to work hard. I also know the future I want for myself, and I see hard work as necessary to achieve that future.”

What does this accomplishment mean to you personally, and what message would you share with other students striving to achieve their goals?

Eric: “Receiving the Bridging the Dream Scholarship reaffirms to me that my hard work and sacrifice is not in vain. I was initially discouraged from applying because I did not yet have a GPA in a graduate program (only an undergraduate GPA), and I had to send in a blank transcript from SCU. To my surprise, my video submission was highly impressive to the panel, allowing me to receive the scholarship even without any grades. Hence, I would say to those trying to achieve their goals, prioritize what matters most to you (i.e., your future), and do not be afraid to do something out of rejection. I hope that my aforementioned story affirms that self-doubt does not triumph over hard work.”

Eric Musgrave’s journey is one of grit and purpose. He stands out as one of only 10 students in the country to receive the Bridging the Dream Scholarship. He’s driven by a passion for making healthcare accessible and bringing chiropractic care to underserved communities.

His story proves what’s possible with hard work and the proper support. If you’re inspired by Eric’s mission, visit SCU’s scholarship page to learn how you can find scholarship opportunities and make a real impact in your community.