Minority Scholars Award
2011 Minority Scholars Award recipients
at the AMA Annual Meeting
Shanda Lohse, MD, Past-Chair of the AMA MAS,
with 2011 recipient Vanessa Sarfoh
The AMA Foundation, in collaboration with the AMA Minority Affairs Section (MAS), with support from Pfizer Inc., offers medical student tuition assistance scholarships through the Minority Scholars Award program. The AMA Foundation is committed to increasing the number of minority physicians to better reflect the needs of our increasingly diverse society. Today, less than 7 percent of U.S. physicians are Hispanic, American Indian, African-American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or from other groups historically underrepresented in the medical profession. ‘Underrepresented in medicine’ refers to racial and ethnic populations that are underrepresented relative to their numbers in the general population. Studies have documented the role of physician diversity in:
- increasing access for underserved populations
- increasing patient satisfaction
- ensuring culturally competent care
The Minority Scholars Award program not only encourages diversity in medicine and alleviates debt, but also rewards commitment to the elimination of healthcare disparities, outstanding academic achievements, leadership activities and community involvement. Approximately twelve Minority Scholars Awards are awarded annually, each in the amount of a $10,000 scholarship. Nominees must be a current first or second-year student and a permanent resident or citizen of the U.S. Eligible students from traditionally underrepresented groups in the medical profession include African American/Black, American Indian, Native Hawaiian, Alaska Native and Hispanic/Latino. Each medical school is invited to submit up to two nominees. Contact your medical school if you are interested in being nominated for the Minority Scholars Award.
The National Business Group on Health (NBGH) added support to this scholarship program for a scholarship honoring the late Ronald M. Davis, MD, Past-President of the AMA. This specific Minority Scholars Award is granted to a minority medical student who has an interest in becoming a primary care physician. Additionally, individuals and members of the AMA-MAS partially supported a scholarship in 2011.
Meet the 2011 Minority Scholars Award Recipients.
2011 Minority Scholars Award recipients announced
The 2011 Minority Scholars Award recipients are:
- Erica Alvarez, Texas Tech University Paul L. Foster School of Medicine
- Kali Cyrus, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine
- Ana Elizabeth Iten, UC Berkeley-UCSF Joint Medical Program
- Laurence James, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
- Alison Lima, University of Massachusetts Medical School
- Sheena McDaniels, Rush Medical College
- Lindsay Morgenstern, Mayo Medical School
- Shariska Petersen, Charles Drew/UCLA Medical Education Program
- Coridon Quinn, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth
- Vanessa Sarfoh, University at Buffalo School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
- Brett Thomas, Florida State University College of Medicine
- Estell Williams, University of Washington School of Medicine
The recipient of the NBGH Ronald M. Davis, MD Memorial Scholarship:
- Gabriel Moreno, Wayne State University School of Medicine
2010 Minority Scholars Award recipients
2009 Minority Scholars Award recipients
2008 Minority Scholars Award recipients
2007 Minority Scholars Award recipients
2006 Minority Scholars Award recipients
2005 Minority Scholars Award recipients
2004 Minority Scholars Award recipients
Learn about past Minority Scholars Award recipients:
Minority Scholars Award photos
View a slideshow of Minority Scholars Award activities at the AMA Annual Meeting in June 2011.
AMA Minority Affairs Section (MAS)
Learn how the AMA-MAS addresses critical minority health and professional issues and works to expand the influence of minority physicians in the profession.
Commission to End Health Care Disparities
Chaired by the American Medical Association, in conjunction with the National Medical Association, the Commission to End Health Care Disparities focuses on increasing the awareness of disparities, promoting workforce diversity, promoting better data gathering, and increasing education and training.
Read more about the importance of diversity in medicine through resources provided by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC):
The AMA Foundation could not offer the Minority Scholars Award program without generous support from organizations like Pfizer Inc, the National Business Group on Health and individuals like Diana Ramos, MD, MPH, a past chair of the AMA Minority Affairs Consortium Governing Council.
Diana Ramos, MD, MPH with her son Jimmy
“I think it’s wonderful that the AMA Foundation supports minority scholars. As a past medical student scholarship recipient, I know the value of even the smallest gift, and I think it’s important to give back in as many ways as you can.”
Support diversity in the medical profession and alleviate medical student debt by donating to the Minority Scholars Award.
