Frequently asked questions about the Foundation's scholarship programs

Q: What are the AMA Foundation's scholarship programs for 2008?
A: The Foundation is offering the following scholarships: The Minority Scholars Award, The Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarship, The Scholars Fund and The Arthur N. Wilson, MD Scholarship .

Deadlines:
The Minority Scholars Award: April 15th.
The Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarship: May 31.
The Arthur N. Wilson, MD Scholarship: June 16.
The Scholars Fund:  July 1.

View more detailed information on our scholarship programs. 

Q: Where can I find an application on your Web site for 2008 scholarship opportunities?
A: We do not post applications on the Foundation's Web site. Each medical school must choose nominees to submit to the Foundation – applications cannot be sent directly from the student to the Foundation. The exception to this rule is for the Arthur N. Wilson, MD Scholarship. Students may download the application from our website and apply directly to the Foundation.

Q: How is The Scholars Fund different from The Minority Scholars Award and The Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarship?
A: The AMA Alliance raises scholarship funds designated to medical schools for The Scholars Fund. Medical schools review applications and choose the scholarship recipients; the Foundation does not play a role in selection of recipients for The Scholars Fund. The amount of scholarship money and the number of scholarships that schools can offer is dependent on the amount of money that the AMA Alliance has raised for that particular school. The minimum scholarship amount is $1,000. For The Minority Scholars Award and The Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarship, medical schools submit nominations to the Foundation. These nominations are then comprehensively reviewed by the Foundation's selection committees to determine the scholarship recipients.

Q: Who from the medical school submits nominations to the Foundation for The Minority Scholars Award and The Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarship, and chooses The Scholars Fund Award recipients?
A: The dean of the medical school or a designate of the dean determines the nominations for The Minority Scholars Award and The Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarship, and the recipients of The Scholars Fund. The dean's designate can be from such offices as Student Affairs or Financial Aid.

Q: Is the application deadline a “postmarked by” deadline or a “arrive by” deadline?
A: All deadlines for any Foundation scholarship or grant application are “arrive by” deadlines. This means that if you mail us your application, the materials must arrive at the AMA Foundation headquarters on or before that date.

Q: I want to apply for the Rock Sleyster, MD memorial scholarship. Where can I get an application?
A: The Rock Sleyster, MD scholarship has been incorporated into The Physicians of Tomorrow Program.

Q: I do not understand the different scholarships listed under The Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarship program.
A: All of the Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarships are $10,000 scholarships awarded to rising fourth-year medical students. The difference between each scholarship under The Physicians of Tomorrow umbrella is that they have different funding sources. Each funding source requires certain eligibility requirements. The scholarships funded by the AMA Foundation are general scholarships for students, based on academic excellence and financial need. The scholarship funded by the Audio-Digest Foundation awards a student that has an interest in mentoring and/or teaching. The scholarship funded by the Johnson F. Hammond, MD fund recognizes an individual with an interest in medical journalism. And finally, the scholarship funded by the Rock Sleyster, MD fund supports a student interested in psychiatry. Each medical school can nominate one medical student for each of these four different categories. Thus, each school can nominate four students in total.