Yes. Scholarships for black medical students are available in the United States. Although talent is shared equally, opportunity is really not. Despite the fact that African-Americans comprise 13.4% of the demography, only 5% of doctors are Black.
This matter of representation also presents a dilemma when it comes to standard patient healthcare, as doctors are understood to rate Black patients’ pain lower when compared to white patients who share similar symptoms. To be honest, medical school can be outrageously costly, expected to cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.
However, there seem to be minority medical student scholarships accessible from a variety of sources, allowing African Americans and other minorities to obtain the financial support they require to undergo medical school. Furthermore, there are numerous groups that offer scholarships and financial aid to minority students.
Remember that entry requirement will undoubtedly differ from one scholarship to another. Some prizes are rooted in your premedical status or year in medical school, specialty selection, educational success, service duty, or belonging to a particular organization.
These options can be used to offset a variety of expenses, including school fees and transport for special events such as symposiums. Numerous family medicine conventions and gatherings provide financial assistance to students in order for them to participate and widen their professional expertise.
Although not every person is eligible for a scholarship sufficient enough to meet the expenses of medical school, but there are indeed some sources of funding that work. So, here are some of the best currently available scholarships for black medical students in 2023.
Medical Grants for Minority Medical Students
Available Scholarships for Black Medical Students
Table of Content
- Sherry R. Arnstein Underrepresented Minority Scholarship
- Foundation Education Award Scholarship
- Medical Diversity Scholarship Program
- Mary Holloway McCoo, M.D. and Wayman Glen McCoo, Sr. M.D. Scholarship
- Student Of Color Scholarship
- 6. American Medical Association
- 7. Howard Hughes Medical Institute
- 8. The United Negro College Fund
- 9. Dr. Marie Zakrzewski Medical Grant
- 10. AAHD Frederick Krause Scholarship
Sherry R. Arnstein Underrepresented Minority Scholarship
The Sherry R. Arnstein Underrepresented Minority Scholarship is titled after former AACOM Executive Director Sherry R. Arnstein. Since 2012, students have profited greatly from the initiative. AACOM actively supports the initiative since its inception, and it now has several more aspirants and scholarship programs available each year.
The scholarship seems to have a population framework that tends to favor students who are African American, Native American, Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian, mainland Puerto Rican, or Hispanic American. If the candidate somehow doesn’t meet this requirement, they would not be considered.
Requirements for Eligibility
To qualify to apply, applicants will have to meet the following criteria.
- Grade Level: All
- Age Required: Any
- Required GPA: Any
- Geographic Eligibility: Any
- Gender: Any
- Race/Ethnicity: Alaskan Native, Black, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, Native North American, Puerto Rican
How to Apply
- Apply to the approved colleges early
- Prove your activism
- Answer all questions
- Adhere the instructions
- Complete the essay
Foundation Education Award Scholarship
Each year, the Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society offers the Foundation Education Award Scholarship. This $5,500 grant is provided to one African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, or Southeast Asian student. Aside from that, candidates will have to be US citizens.
Note that an applicant is eligible for up to two scholarship awards and will have to be admitted full-time to a Pennsylvania medical school. A candidate should also sign up as a user on the program platform and complete an exclusively online form to be able to qualify.
Requirements for Eligibility
To qualify, applicants will be expected to meet the following criteria.
- Grade Level: Undergraduate
- Age Required: Any
- Required GPA: Any
- Geographic Eligibility: Pennsylvania
- Gender: Any
- Race/Ethnicity: Hispanic, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Alaskan Native, Asian American, Black
How to Apply
- Obtain notable recommendation letters
- Obtain documents from your institution
- Put up an honest essay
- Comply with the guidelines
Medical Diversity Scholarship Program
The Buckfire law firm, established in Detroit in 1969 by David Buckfire, is a well-known personal injury law firm that specializes in assisting individuals who have experienced critical injuries and damage. The agency places a high value on helping the community in a wide range of ways, among which is through tuition assistance.
The Buckfire Law Firm set up the Medical Diversity Scholarship Program in 2014 as part of a strategy to acknowledge medical school students who work hard to encourage inclusivity in their society, and it has backed numerous students. Each year, the program offers one scholarship prized at $2,000 per beneficiary to help worthy undergraduate students pursuing medical studies in the United States.
Requirements for Eligibility
To be considered eligible for this scholarship, applicants will need to meet the following criteria.
- Grade Level: Undergraduate
- Age Required: Any
- Required GPA: 3
- Geographic Eligibility: United States
- Gender: Any
- Race/Ethnicity: Alaskan Native, Asian American, Black, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, Native North American, Pacific Islander
How to Apply
- Keep up an outstanding academic record
- Show commitment to promoting ethnic diversity
- Clearly explain your student body contribution
- Have your application proofread before submission
Mary Holloway McCoo, M.D. and Wayman Glen McCoo, Sr. M.D. Scholarship
According to reports, UNCF was established in 1944 to assist minorities, primarily African American students, in obtaining their college degrees.
The Mary Holloway McCoo, M.D., and Wayman Glenn McCoo, Sr. M.D. Scholarship program was created in collaboration with Mildred C. McCoo, Glenda McCooWina, Ms. Marilyn McCoo Davis, and Mr. William Davis. Annually, the organization accords two scholarships totaling $2,500 per semester to medical students.
The scholarship is available to postgraduate and doctoral educators enrolled in an M.D. program at an approved institution or university in the United States.
UNCF handles several scholarship opportunities and gifts over $100 million in scholarships to over 10,000 students at over 1,100 universities in the United States each year. From its inception, the organization has assisted over 500,000 students in overcoming budgetary barriers to obtaining a university education.
Requirements for Eligibility
Applicants for this scholarship will have to meet the following criteria in order to be considered.
- Grade Level: Postgraduate – Doctorate
- Age Required: Any
- GPA required: 3.8
- Geographic Eligibility: USA
- Any gender Race/Ethnicity: Native North American, Alaskan Native, Black, Hispanic
How to Apply
- Keep up an outstanding academic record
- Show community service and leadership
- Ensure to prove your understanding of the essay
- Make available financial need proof
Student Of Color Scholarship
The Student of Color Scholarship is another top option made available by the Northwest Osteopathic Medical Foundation. Note that the scholarship program seeks to put money into the future of osteopathic medicine in the Pacific Northwest. Students from Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana are able to qualify for the scheme.
Applicants for this scholarship must be trying to study or pursue a career in osteopathic medicine, healthcare, or patient care at a COCA-approved college. From its very commencement in 1986, the foundation has bestowed over 500 scholarships to Northwest students to help with osteopathic medical school tuition.
Requirements for Eligibility
Applicants will be expected to meet the following criteria in order to be considered.
- All grades are eligible.
- Age Limit: Any
- Geographic Eligibility: Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Alaska, and Washington
- Gender: Any
- Race/Ethnicity: Hispanic, Black
How to Apply
- Show a genuine interest in healthcare
- Show proof of your leadership skills
- Illustrate your community volunteer experience
- Pick your references carefully
6. American Medical Association
Award Description
The American Medical Association is a national organization that has many different programs available to help with funding. One of the most important funds they have for minority medical students is the Minority Scholars Program.
Through this program, African Americans can find grants for minority medical students through the AMA as well as other related sources, The program provides extensive information for minority medical students who are looking for grants to fund their research, residencies, and more.
Eligibility:
- You must be enrolled on a full-time basis in college or university
- A student majoring in health and disability may be given preference
- Must be U.S. citizens or legal residents currently residing in the U.S.
- Must show evidence of progress in academic work
- Applicant must belong to a minority group to quality
7. Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Award Description
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute has a special program that is designed for African Americans, minorities, and other disenfranchised groups to find the funding they need for medical school. This program also lists several other grants for other areas of medical practice on their website.
Through the Gilliam Fellowship for Advanced Study, grants for minority medical students are available for medical programs. The fellowship is worth up to $46,500 and includes just the costs of a Ph.D. program for up to 5 years. If you would like to learn more about the other grants that you can get at Howard Hughes Medical Institute, do click here.
Eligibility:
- Applicants are required to be currently enrolled in a college
- Prospective students pursuing a degree can apply
- Applicants should be either U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
- Funds can be merged with other grants from other institutions
- Contestants in the HHMI Exceptional Research Opportunities Program are required to apply.
8. The United Negro College Fund
Award Descriptions
Perhaps the most well-known African American grant programs, the United Negro College Fund is an organization that provides scholarships, grants, and other funding for African Americans to go to college. There are varied opportunities that you can find on this platform as an African American.
Grants for minority medical students are available to African Americans through two different avenues in the program: the UNCF itself as well as the Merck Science Institute.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be residents in the U.S.
- Must belong to a minority group
- The major requirement is to be in college pursuing a medical degree
- Applicant must show a level of academic progress
- May apply as a student planning to go into the medical field
9. Dr. Marie Zakrzewski Medical Grant
Award Description
This medical grant by Dr. Zakrzewski is a grant that is geared to help medical students in their quest to complete their education. Dr. Marie E. Zakrzewski Medical Scholarship is worth $3,500. This program fund is awarded annually. You have to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.
The selection process for this scholarship is largely based on academic excellence, hence the GPA requirement. However, there are other criteria such as state of residents, such as Massachusetts, New England may be considered if there are no applications with a polish background.
Eligibility:
- Must come from a minority background
- Applicants may be resident in the following states: MA, NY, NE
- Must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident of the United States
- Applicants can apply from within the U.S. and outside
- Must be willing to participate in general medical-related research
10. AAHD Frederick Krause Scholarship
Award Description
The ADHD Federick Krause grant is one that is deemed quite competitive especially given the terms and conditions set for this award. However, the true test of just how competitive different grants and scholarships are is in applying to a diverse selection.
This program covers several other areas of medical program evaluation. The Federick Krause grant takes into the cognizance that the number of available grants that are open to students who identify as African Americans are quite stringent.
Eligibility:
- Applicant must be an active member
- Must be a citizen or resident of the U.S.
- Applicants should have medical affiliations
- Applicants must update their research and findings accessibility
- Must be open to working in group research when needed
In Conclusion
Ultimately there are a lot of grants available for minorities as long as you take the time to look. The application process may be rigorous and time-consuming, but if you are dedicated to attending medical school, the hard work to obtain your grant is worth it.
