The ability to understand and effectively care for diverse populations first begins by supporting diversity within the health professions and providing access to all students whose goal is to join the healthcare field. This section lists resources and supplemental information provided to students of all backgrounds with the goal of diversifying the health professions.
Undergraduate Scholarships
Underrepresented Groups in STEM
American Chemical Society Scholars Award
Renewable scholarships to underrepresented minority students who want to enter the fields of chemistry or chemistry-related fields.
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation General Mills Health Scholarship
Provides scholarships to African-American students who live in a Congressional Black Caucus district and are currently enrolled or planning to enroll in undergraduate or graduate programs in the fields of medicine, engineering, technology, nutrition, or other health-related fields. Up to 46 recipients will receive a $2,000 award.
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Scholarship
The mission of CHCI Scholarship Program is to provide critical financial assistance that will increase graduation rates among Latino students in post-secondary education.
NIH Undergraduate Scholarship
This program gives a significant scholarship per academic year to recipients who agree to work in an NIH research lab for ten weeks in the summer and after graduation as full-time employees for 12 months.
Scholarships and Resources for Hispanic and LatinX Students
Korean-American Scholarship
KASF scholarships (which range from $500 to $5,000) are offered to the qualified Korean American students (including foreign students from Korea). All applicants must be enrolled in a full time program in the U.S during the scholarship application year. If extra funds are available, other students (non Koreans) may qualify for scholarships. Specifically, descendants of American veterans served during the Korean War may qualify for scholarships (applicable to selective regions).
Women in STEM
Science Ambassador Scholarship
The Science Ambassador Scholarship is a full tuition scholarship for a woman seeking an undergraduate degree in science, engineering, or math, funded by Cards Against Humanity.
Graduate and Professional Program Scholarships
Veterinary Scholarships
Charles Shelton Veterinary Medicine/Technology Scholarship
The mission of the Charles Shelton Foundation is to increase participation of African-American post-secondary education. The scholarship provides two non-renewable $2,000 awards offered annually.
Minority Students in Veterinary Medicine Scholarship
The Minority Students in Veterinary Medicine Scholarship is for students currently enrolled in or accepted to a veterinary school in the United States. This scholarship serves to meet the economic needs of minority students to encourage enrollment in veterinary medicine programs.
Medical School Scholarships
National Medical Fellowships
These Fellowships are general need-based scholarships for first and second year medical students from groups underrepresented in medicine.
Sherry R. Arnstein Minority Student Scholarship
This scholarship gives two awards each year, one to a student newly accepted by an AACOM member school and one to a continuing student at an AACOM member school.
United Health Foundation (UHF)
United Health Foundation (UHF) has partnered with National Medical Fellowships (NMF) to offer the Diverse Medical Scholars Program. This is a service-learning program designed to increase the number of qualified medical providers who have a commitment to improving access to quality healthcare in medically underserved communities.
Post-Bac Opportunity for Health Disparities
International Exchange Program for Minority Students
The Mount Sinai International Exchange Program for Minority Students is an internship program that supports students and recent graduates to conduct mentored research in other countries. Minority Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degree students are selected to participate from around the United States.
Black/African Descent Scholarship
Alexis G. Philius Scholarship: Lack of diversity has significant consequences on health outcomes, health equity for patients and communities of color. UNAC/UHCP has decided to address underrepresentation in health professions with this scholarship. Five scholarships of $2,000 each
Community members enrolled in a Health Care degree program Scholarship
Delima MacDonald Community Scholarship: Delima MacDonald, RN, 30-year UNAC/UHCP Treasurer, taught generations of UNAC/UHCP affiliate leaders the value of a dollar, and ensured they spent union dollars wisely. Five scholarships of $2,000 each.
Summer Programs for Underrepresented Students
See eligibility requirements -- usually only after first or second year of college
Prehealth Summer Experiences
Keck Bridging the Gap program
Minority students have the opportunity to gain exposure to the exceptional research and clinical programs at Keck School of Medicine.
Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP)
Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP), funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and administered by AAMC and ADEA, sponsors free 6-week summer programs at 12 schools.
Neurological Surgery summer student program
The program provides students seeking summer lab placements the opportunity to explore basic and clinical neurosciences and its mission is to recruit and educate a wide spectrum of students from diverse backgrounds, focusing on those under-represented in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), and broaden their knowledge base in the field of biomedical research, including translational, clinical and basic research; and to inspire students to pursue a career in research, medicine or allied fields.
Additional Resources
California Pre-Health Dreamers
Financing the MCAT
Carmen Reyes MCAT Scholarship
AAMC Fee Assistance Program