2009 Herbert W. Nickens Medical Student Scholarships

Honoring individuals who assist medical schools achieve their diversity objectives and eliminate health care disparities

The deadline for receipt of nominations was May 1, 2009.

These awards consist of five scholarships given to outstanding students entering their third year of medical school who have shown leadership in efforts to eliminate inequities in medical education and health care and have demonstrated leadership efforts in addressing educational, societal, and health care needs of minorities in the United States. Each recipient receives a $5,000 scholarship in November of the year the scholarships are awarded.

A medical school may nominate one student per year for this award. A candidate must be:

• a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and
• entering the third year of study in a LCME-accredited U.S. medical school in fall 2009. Students enrolled in combined degree programs (such as M.D./Ph.D.) are eligible when they are entering their third year of medical school.

A nomination packet must contain 10 stapled sets (one with originals; nine with photocopies). Each stapled set must be collated in the following order:

1. a nomination letter from the medical school's dean or the dean's designate discussing the nominee's:
   • leadership efforts to eliminate inequities in medical education and health care,
   • demonstrated leadership efforts in addressing the educational, societal, and health-care needs of minorities,
   • excellent academic achievement through the first and second years of medical school (this is essential when a school has a pass/fail grading system),
   • awards and honors, special research projects, and extracurricular activities in which the student has shown leadership abilities;
2. a letter of recommendation from the medical school's designed minority affairs representative or office;
3. a letter of recommendation from a faculty member;
4. a personal statement by the nominee, which does not exceed 250 words, discussing his or her motivation for pursuing a medical career and how he or she anticipates working to improve the health and health care of minorities;
5. a curriculum vitae (CV) for the nominee which clearly indicates contact information; and
6. the nominee's official medical school academic transcript (remember to photocopy both sides of the transcript).

A nomination packet with 10 collated and stapled sets must be received by May 1, 2009. Late nominations will not be considered. All nominations must be submitted to:

Herbert W. Nickens Medical Student Scholarships Award Committee
c/o Juan Amador
Association of American Medical Colleges
2450 N Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20037-1127

For more information, e-mail nickensawards@aamc.org.

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