The AMA Foundation: 56 years of giving

The philanthropic arm of the AMA helps support physician education, medical research and patient care.

Editorial. April 10, 2006.

The medical community has a long-standing tradition of service to patients, the community and the profession. Few organizations have exemplified the finest elements of this tradition as well as the American Medical Association Foundation, the AMA's philanthropic arm.

Now in its 56th year, it continues to financially support deep-rooted activities in three basic areas:

Education. Support of medical students remains a key part of Foundation activities. Through its partnership with the AMA Alliance, the Foundation's Scholars Fund provides about a half million dollars in tuition aid each year; over the past 50 years, the total is nearly $90 million.

Also, the Foundation provides about $250,000 each year in scholarships and educational awards.

The Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarship program provides scholarships directly to rising fourth-year medical students. In 2005 the fund awarded four $10,000 scholarships. It expects to hand out 10 scholarships for that amount this year. Also in 2005, the Foundation awarded 10 $10,000 scholarships to minority medical students through its second annual Minority Scholars Award program, supported by the Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative.

Research. The Foundation backs this cornerstone of medicine. It provides more than $85,000 each year through its Seed Grant Research Program, recently announcing this year's 40 recipients of $1,500 to $2,500 grants in six research categories. The Foundation also is the lead sponsor of the National and Regional Student Research Forums, with an $85,000 annual contribution.