Through her internship and community service activities, Jylexus Burks has been able to help many people access health care on her path to becoming a pharmacist – one conversation, one screening at a time.
“My mission is to ensure that everyone gets patient-centered, quality care regardless of their background,” Jylexus, a University of Tennessee student, says, noting that simple blood sugar and blood pressure checks and a quick chat about the right way to take a medication can go a long way toward helping people take control of their own health.
Jylexus is one of six recipients of this year’s BlueCross Power of We Scholarship. Read more about them below.
Jylexus Burks
Doctor of Pharmacy candidate
University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy
As a pharmacy intern at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Jylexus has seen firsthand the power of quality health care. In her role, she’s supported the treatment of children facing serious illness. She’s also seen the effects of barriers to care as a clinical volunteer for the Christ Community Health Center – Frayser, as well as Memphis-area health events like the Latino Wellness fair.
By supporting screenings and medication counseling throughout her community, Jylexus has educated area residents about ways to avoid or reduce medication complications and the importance of taking medications as prescribed. She’s also been able to help several low-income patients get their medications at little to no cost.
After she graduates, Jylexus aims to advocate for expanding pharmacist-led chronic disease management programs that help patients get quality care and consistent support to improve their overall wellbeing and avoid serious complications. For her, it’s all about giving people the resources they need to achieve a healthier future.
The Power of We Scholarship will allow Jylexus to continue to advocate for patients and help take a huge financial burden off her shoulders.
“This will allow me to continue to support care for people regardless of their socioeconomic background or circumstances,” she says. “As I continue my journey, my goal is to implement meaningful changes in communities like the one where I grew up.”
Gagana Borra
Graduate Student, Biomedical Sciences
Vanderbilt University
Gagana is an aspiring physician and scientist who plans to become a pediatrician and support the health of young Tennesseans.
A product of Nashville Public Schools, she saw what it was like for some of her peers and classmates who didn’t have access to healthy, nutritious foods to rely on school-provided meals as their main source of nutrition. Her own personal and family health experiences abroad highlighted other challenges with accessing quality health care.
“I know what it’s like to ask those deep questions of: ‘Am I going to be okay? Can I see a doctor? Will they be able to see me and give me the care I need? Is this medication affordable?’ I want to make sure Tennesseans don’t have to ask those questions,” she says.
For Gagana, volunteering and shadowing different medical personnel during graduate school further opened her eyes to the obstacles faced by Tennesseans who don’t have access to healthy food, supportive treatment or affordable medications. She learned that many residents can’t access a medical provider when needed, and specialty care can be especially hard to find.
These experiences sparked her desire to improve pediatric care in Tennessee, serving children with autoimmune diseases and chronic illnesses. She also wants to play a role in improving residents’ access to nutritious foods as a means of decreasing the risk of chronic diseases.
When she’s not studying or working in the lab at Vanderbilt, Gagana enjoys baking. She’s put this passion into service making specially designed treats for patients through Icing Smiles, a non-profit that recruits bakers to make birthday cakes for chronically ill children and/or their siblings.
Gagana also volunteers as a playroom supervisor at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital playrooms, witnessing how play and creativity can support healing. Personal experience supporting young family members reinforced her belief that art and play therapies are key for children facing illness. In the future, she also wants to expand access to this type of care, helping our state’s children improve their mental and emotional well-being.
Gagana is grateful for the support the Power of We Scholarship has provided as she pursues her ambitious goals.
“This scholarship gives me the opportunity to develop the skills and tools needed to be a physician who can help improve health across Tennessee,” she says.
Jamela Wiseman
Senior, Nursing
Austin Peay State University
Nashville native Jamela, a graduate of Martin Luther King, Jr. Magnet High School and a first-generation college student, has faced numerous challenges while supporting herself through nursing school. Her passion for psychiatric nursing and mental health advocacy keeps her motivated.
“Mental health is often overlooked, and many people believe that seeking help is a sign of weakness. However, prioritizing mental health is one of the most courageous and transformative things a person can do, not only for themselves but also for their families and communities,” she says.
“I am determined to be part of the change that ensures mental health is treated with the same urgency as physical health.”
Jamela, a senior, plans to pursue an advanced degree after graduation and become a psychiatric nurse practitioner. She hopes to use her training to support access to mental health services and establish a mobile clinic to deliver care to communities.
Jamela is committed to serving pediatric populations, driven by the experiences she had after losing a family member as a teenager. She wants to work in public schools to educate young Tennesseans about the importance of mental wellbeing and provide them with the tools they need to support their own behavioral health.
Beyond clinical support and community outreach, Jamela has her eye on policy advocacy.
“I want to be someone who not only treats patients but also works to change the systems that have long ignored the mental health needs of communities,” she says.
Jamela also has a passion for helping soldiers and veterans experiencing psychiatric issues. Above all, she plans to make a lasting impact on places and people that have long been overlooked. She appreciates the support of the Power of We Scholarship as she finishes her first degree and looks to the future.
“I want to be a voice for those who feel unheard, a source of hope for those struggling in silence, and a driving force in reshaping how mental health is perceived and treated in Tennessee.”
Read about the other 2025 Power of We Scholars here.
About the Power of We Scholarship
At BlueCross, our mission is to provide peace of mind through better health, and one critical aspect of that commitment is doing our part to improve care for our neighbors.
That’s why the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation funds the BlueCross Power of We Scholarship, providing six $10,000 awards to students who are committed to improving health care in Tennessee.
Since 2013, the BlueCross Foundation has awarded more than half a million dollars in scholarships to 56 students.
The BlueCross Foundation’s funding is separate from corporate operations and must be used to benefit Tennessee communities. The foundation has a self-sustaining endowment, and the company has not contributed funds since 2014.
Alison has been a member of the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee corporate communications team since 2015. A Chattanooga native, she has a decade of health care communications experience including writing, editing, public relations and social media.