Curtis G. Hames Nursing Scholarship

Established in 1982, this scholarship serves to memorialize the life of Dr. Curtis G. Hames, as well as promote nursing in rural Southeast Georgia. Dr. Hames was born in 1920 in Claxton, Georgia where he practiced medicine from 1947 to 1988. During his career, he became renowned for conducting an epidemiologic study of Evans County residents titled the “Evans County Heart Study” which took place from 1958 to 1995. This research resulted in over 560 published papers that improved research on heart disease, genetics, cancer, hypertension, strokes, pesticide pollution, neurohormones, immunology, viruses, psychological determinants of disease, and the effects of social interaction on disease. For his contributions to the medical community, the Medical College of Georgia’s Department of Family Practice created HamesNet named in his honor and The Society of Teachers of Family Medicine created the Curtis G. Hames Research Award in Family Medicine. During his life, Dr. Hames served as Clinical Professor within the Department of Family Medicine at the Medical College of Georgia, Clinical Professor within the Department of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health of the University of North Carolina, Visiting Clinical Professor within the Department of Family Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina, and an adjunct professor within the School of Health and Professional Studies at Georgia Southern University. He also has received the Lamartine Griffin Hardman Cup Award, the Albert Lasker Special Public Health Award, the Curtis G. Hames Chair in Family Medicine at the Medical College of Georgia, and the John D. MacArthur Foundation Fellowship Award in 1984. He received degrees from Emory University as well as the Medical College of South Carolina. During his time, he also served as President of the Georgia Heart Association, a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, a member of the American Medical Association, and a Trustee of the Medical College of Georgia Foundation. The Curtis G. Hames Nursing Scholarship was created to increase the role of nursing in the rural area of Southeast Georgia. As a result, applicants for the Curtis G. Hames Nursing Scholarship should reside from any of the following counties: Columbia, McDuffie, Warren, Glascock, Washington, Johnson, Laurens, Bleckley, Pulaski, Dodge, Telfair, Ben Hill, Coffee, Ware, Charlton and all counties eastward). Applicants must be majoring in Nursing and enrolled full time with a C Average or better.