American Specialty Health Awards Scholarships to Naturopathy Students.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 26, 2004

American Specialty Health Inc., the nation's leading complementary health care benefits organization, announced the winners of its 2003 scholarship awards for students pursuing careers in naturopathy.

The scholarship winners are Eric Blake and Richard Krebs, both from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine, and Teresa Tsui, a student from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. Each will receive $5,000, which will be applied toward further studies in naturopathy.

Criteria for the scholarships include grade point average, financial need and participation in various professional activities. Each applicant was also required to submit a written essay on their studies in complementary health care. Blake, Krebs and Tsui all submitted essays based on the integration of naturopathy into mainstream health care.

"Our scholarship winners are the future of complementary health care," said George DeVries, chairman, president and chief executive officer of American Specialty Health. "These outstanding students are a positive sign that the integration of naturopathy into the mainstream health care system will happen sooner rather than later."

Each year, students pursuing careers in various aspects of complementary health care may apply for scholarships totaling $41,000 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. In 2003, American Specialty Health awarded five scholarships in each of the following areas: chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy, naturopathy and dietetics.

The deadline for entries for the 2004 scholarships for future naturopaths is Oct. 25, 2004. For information about ASH scholarships and future deadlines for students, visit www.ashproviders.com.

American Specialty Health Inc. and its subsidiaries are the nation's leading specialty benefits organization for complementary health care -- providing benefit, health education and affinity network programs to health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups and trust funds nationwide. Its subsidiary American Specialty Health Plans of California Inc., which operates in California, is the nation's first and largest specialty health plan for chiropractic and acupuncture. Based in San Diego, American Specialty Health has more than 500 employees and more than 9 million members in benefit programs nationwide. For more information about American Specialty Health, visit their Web site at www.ashcompanies.com.