The Leonard C. Akman, MD ‘43 Global Medicine Scholarship provides fourth-year medical students with the opportunity to enrich and diversify their medical education, broaden their public health knowledge, and deepen their commitment to service by supporting experiential learning abroad. Scholarships of up to $3,000 per student will be awarded to support global health opportunities through the SMHS IMP or credible third-party organizations.
Academic/Eligibility Requirements
Fourth-year medical students who are in good academic standing and participating in an IMP approved international elective may apply for this program.
- For Clinical Electives: Students participating in a clinical elective should have completed the core clinical rotations (2 months each in internal medicine, primary care, pediatrics, OB/GYN, surgery, and psychiatry).
Non-eligible students: Students accepting any other scholarships or fellowships for their proposed international opportunity (Supplemental funding may be allowed. However, it must be reviewed and approved by IMP in advance).
Program Requirements
- The content of the proposed elective will be substantive in scope and educational value with well-defined objectives and intended outcomes.
- The proposed elective will have the support of a faculty mentor either at the home institution or at the host organization.
- The elective will be 2-4 weeks in length, with any objectives or intended outcomes achievable within that time frame.
- The final award is dependent on final approval from the host site and confirmation of the student's registration in one of IMP's international elective courses (IDIS 349, IDIS 352, of IDIS 370).
Application Requirements
All applicants should provide an original application in PDF format only.
- CV
- Two letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
- Scholarship essay: Please explain how your project relates to Global Health. Explain what impact your project will have on the healthcare community. Explain how you will use this project to further your educational and career goals.
In addition to the requirements listed above, applicants participating in an elective at a non-SMHS affiliated site should provide the following:
- Verification of host site and mentor support – letter/s of support from mentor or mentors if the elective is through a third-party organization unaffiliated with SMHS.
Selection Criteria
- Academic excellence
- Career goals; previous relevant experience; and special skills such as language knowledge
- Relevance of program to students’ long-term goals
- Quality of the infrastructure and support by the mentor/host organization
Reporting Requirements
- A completed evaluation by the host site of the scholar’s performance.
- A reflection paper describing the scholar's project, experience, and any results and implications of the project (results and implications must be addressed for all research projects). The paper is due within two weeks of the conclusion of the program.
- A “Thank you” letter to the donor for their generous contribution and support. In addition, IMP should be provided with a copy of this letter.
- Photographs (3 to 5 is acceptable) from your clinical rotation experience.
- A presentation for a group, which may include the donors, dean’s office, and selection committee. An additional presentation to students or others may also be scheduled.
Application Submission
Please submit your application to the SMHS IMP. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Please submit the application in the following order as one PDF document: CV; essay; personal statement, and the two letters of recommendation.
Should you have any questions, please contact us at impinfo@gwu.edu.