Minority Scholars Award
2009 Minority Scholars Award recipients at the AMA Annual Meeting
Elizabeth Phillips (right) with her sister Brianna at the AMA House of Delegates Opening Session
The AMA Foundation, in collaboration with the AMA Minority Affairs Consortium (MAC), 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 the elimination of healthcare disparities, but also rewards 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-MAC partially supported a scholarship in 2009.
Minority Scholars Award Recipients
2009 Minority Scholars Award recipients announced
2009 Minority Scholars Award recipient bios
The 2009 Minority Scholars Award recipients are:
- Rashad Belin, PhD, University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine
- Natalie Casagrande, University of Kansas School of Medicine
- Kofi Essel, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Suzanne Garber, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis
- Carl Lambert, Jr., Rush Medical College
- Marlene Martin, Stanford University School of Medicine
- Lisa Ochoa-Frongia, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
- Elizabeth Phillips, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
- Kasandra Scales, MPH, State University of New York Upstate Medical University
- Catalina Soto, Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Manuel Tapia, University of California, Davis School of Medicine
The recipient of the award funded by the NBGH Ronald M. Davis, MD Memorial Scholarship is:
- Lucille Torres, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
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 2009.
Related Links
AMA Minority Affairs Consortium (MAC)
Learn how the AMA-MAC 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):
- Diverse physician workforce fact sheet
- Aspiringdocs.org: The AAMC campaign to increase diversity in medicine
The Journal for Minority Medical Students
Read an article about the 2008 Minority Scholars Award recipients in this publication
Donate Now
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.
