Washington, D.C., February 24, 2009—The AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) today announced the 10 winners of the first AspiringDocs.org Video Contest. Each winner will be awarded $1,000 toward his or her medical school application costs.

College students from across the country were asked to submit a two-minute video explaining why they wanted to become a doctor, as part of a contest initiated by the AspiringDocs.org campaign—a Web site and outreach effort created by the AAMC to increase diversity in medicine. The goal of the contest was to turn students' dreams of a career in medicine into assistance with the costs of preparing for and applying to medical school.

"It's inspiring to see how passionate these students are about becoming doctors, despite the very real obstacles they face in their lives," said AAMC's Chief Diversity Officer Charles Terrell, Ed.D. "As we begin to deal with a nationwide physician shortage, we are encouraged to see that there are many bright, young people who want to serve their communities."

The winners of the AspiringDocs.org Video Contest are:

• Chidiogo Anyigbo, junior, Emory University, Ga.
• Laura-Louise Campbell, senior, Smith College, Mass.
• Rosalee Chan, freshman, Southern Methodist University, Texas
• Heather Clark, senior, Northwestern University, Ill.
• Chanel Fischetti, junior, University of Southern California, Calif.
• Victoria Flores, senior, University of California at Irvine, Calif.
• Benjamin Gruenbaum, senior, University of Connecticut, Conn.
• Faizan Majid, sophomore, University of Houston, Texas
• Deanna Shoup, junior, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, S.D.
• Lynda Villagomez, senior, Loyola Marymount University, Calif.

The winning videos are featured on the AAMC's YouTube site. The winners are also profiled on AspiringDocs.org.

Each winner will receive a $1,000 credit redeemable for AAMC products and services that may be applied toward: medical school application fees through AMCAS® (American Medical College Application Service), registration fees for the MCAT® exam (Medical College Admission Test), or the purchase of publications such as medical school guides and practice tests.

The goal of the AAMC's AspiringDocs.org campaign is to increase diversity in medicine by encouraging undergraduate, minority students-particularly African Americans, Native Americans and Latinos-to consider careers in medicine. The campaign Web site, launched in 2006, provides college students with the information, tools, and support they need to decide if the medical profession is right for them. It also helps students understand and navigate the medical school application and admission process, prepare for the MCAT, and apply for financial aid.

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The Association of American Medical Colleges is a not-for-profit association representing all 131 accredited U.S. and 17 accredited Canadian medical schools; nearly 400 major teaching hospitals and health systems, including 68 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers; and nearly 90 academic and scientific societies. Through these institutions and organizations, the AAMC represents 128,000 faculty members, 75,000 medical students, and 110,000 resident physicians. Additional information about the AAMC and U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals is available at www.aamc.org/newsroom.

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