Med School Scholarship Fuels Young Dad’s Dreams

Seeing a general surgeon in action in his western Montana hometown inspired Karsen Krebs to become the first in his family to pursue a career in medicine.

“Our town is small, and he was so involved in our community and well respected,” Karsen said. “He’d grown up in Plains, too, and become a doctor in this underserved area. I could envision myself doing that in a Montana community and was hooked.”

Karsen, 27, is a medical student at the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine and is doing clinical rotations at Benefis to better understand different specialties. He’ll graduate in May 2027 and then have several years of residency.

“My goal is to get back to Montana for my career,” he said.

Karsen and his wife have two young children, so the Benefis Foundation scholarship he receives is “huge for me,” he said. “When you are supporting more than just yourself, it’s really hard. The student loan burden is quite large.”

The generosity of scholarship donors means “there are other people who care, who are investing in my future and want to see me succeed, and who are investing in Montana’s future. We have such a need for healthcare workers.”

Donors to Benefis Foundation’s scholarship program help medical students, nursing students, and others working toward healthcare careers achieve their dreams. Since 1998, 983 students have received scholarships from Benefis Foundation donors, tallying more than $2,128,350. In 2025, 68 healthcare students and 22 medical students received $240,100 in scholarships.

“From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate your investment in Montana’s future and in my future. It’s encouraging, like my hard work is noticed and you’re saying, ‘Keep going, you’re almost there!’” Karsen said. 

Karsen studied pre-med at Montana State University. He may be the first in his family to pursue a medical career, but his parents, who are outfitters, are “crazy supportive” and encourage him to “follow my passions and dream big.”

“They realize what a challenge it is to even get into medical school, let alone succeed while juggling a family,” he said. “I’m striving to become a compassionate and competent physician in order to give back and improve the health of the communities of Montana that enrich our lives. I truly believe this is the ‘last best place,’ and I can’t wait to make my own meaningful impact.”