Minority Scholars Award

2012 Minority Scholars Award recipients Lizbeth Brice, Marissa Mendez, Eriberto Michel and Kessiena Gbenedio at the AMA Annual Meeting

Dionne Hart, MD, Chair of the AMA MAS, with 2012 recipient Darien Sutton-Ramsey

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, approximately 9 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 seven to twelve Minority Scholars Awards are given 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.

Nomination forms will be available to medical schools in February 2013. Each medical school is invited to submit up to two nominees.

Deadline: April 15, 2013

Contact your medical school if you are interested in being nominated for the Minority Scholars Award.

Donors to the Minority Scholars Award

In addition to Pfizer Inc, The National Business Group on Health (NBGH) provides annual 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. The California Healthcare Foundation partially supported a scholarship in 2012. The AMA Minority Affairs Section (MAS) Governing Council and members contributed one additional scholarship in 2012. The program could not be possible without the generous support of individuals, foundations and corporate partners.

Meet the 2012 Minority Scholars Award Recipients.