Diversity Scholarships
“Lived experience cannot easily be replicated by training or book learning. The art of practicing medicine is greatly influenced by lived experiences. Patients benefit when they have the option of seeking care from physicians that have had experiences like theirs.” Michael Van Dyke, DO; Previous Scholarship Recipient
In celebration of 35 years of providing almost 600 tuition scholarships to osteopathic medical students, the Foundation established two diversity scholarships in 2022.
The Foundation is committed to the philosophy that osteopathic medicine is “modern medicine for the body, mind, and spirit”. This is the fundamental and unique aspect of osteopathic medicine that has been taught in our medical schools for more than 100 years. This commitment is especially true when it comes to serving those in our society who have historically been underserved in our healthcare system.
It may be decades before the sexual identity, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds of our physicians match our population. The more we can help every medical student understand the unique opportunities in their diverse patient population, the better health outcomes we can expect in these populations. Often, medical students with diverse life experiences are the best resource we have to teach other students and professors.
Recipient of our first scholarship for a student committed to LBGTQ+ healthcare
More and more, we ask members of the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities to help all of us become more aware and sensitive to the needs of these communities. We ask them to serve on DEI committees; make special presentations and attend additional meetings and conferences. Often, we expect them to do this with no additional compensation or consideration of how these extra opportunities impact personal time with family and friends.
Because of this added responsibility, the Foundation believes these students deserve additional support through our diversity tuition scholarships.
Applications for the 2024-25 Diversity Scholarship Program will open on or about March 1, 2024.