International Medical Outreach Scholarship
Deadline - April 2, 2023 @ 11:59pm ET
Five (5) students will be selected for the scholarship and receive up to $1,000 to cover expenses associated with a Power of a Nickel (PON) trip. PON global health trips are catered to providing healthcare and health education for underserved and medically needy persons. This discount is intended for those wishing to conduct research or scholarly activities related to activities encountered on the medical trip. A research article, poster presentation, article for publication or presentation at an accredited venue, or a publishable case study is required. The initial 50% of the scholarship ($500) will be awarded prior to the trip and the remaining 50% will be awarded after the research component has been submitted, within 6 months of trip completion.
Sponsored by Dr. Stan and Barbara Grogg
Founded in 2013, Power of a Nickel came from the global outreach experiences of Dr. Stan and Barbara Grogg. Their mission is to provide quality healthcare to underserved and medically needy persons including healthcare education to support their continued health improvement.
Two students will be selected for the scholarship and will receive up to $500 to cover a cause that helps support International Medicine relief causes. Since COVID-19 has limited Medical mission trips, this scholarship hopes to continue the theme of this scholarship by funding causes that are centered around Global Health. Some examples of these causes are service events, lectures to Global health conferences, and related research.
Awards may be applied to projects that have previously occurred or are yet to occur as long as the applicant is still a student at an accredited college of Osteopathic medicine at the time the scholarship is awarded.
Two students will be selected for the scholarship and will receive up to $500 to cover a cause that helps support International Medicine relief causes. Since COVID-19 has limited Medical mission trips, this scholarship hopes to continue the theme of this scholarship by funding causes that are centered around Global Health. Some examples of these causes are service events, lectures to Global health conferences, and related research.
Awards may be applied to projects that have previously occurred or are yet to occur as long as the applicant is still a student at an accredited college of Osteopathic medicine at the time the scholarship is awarded.
Fall 2022 Recipient
Tiffany Ruan, OMS-II
Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
"First off, I want to thank you both for providing me with the International Medical Outreach Scholarship. I was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago by two immigrant parents and attended Davidson College for my undergraduate career. This coming February, I will be in Guatemala completing my family medicine rotation and carrying out two research projects, one on intraarticular knee injections and one on opioid addiction in individuals with chronic lower back pain. In Guatemala, there is a lack of healthcare support when it comes to orthopedic issues, and I wanted to see how physicians can better serve their patients in a rural setting. The scholarship will relieve the financial burden and allow me to further my understanding in global health research."
Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
"First off, I want to thank you both for providing me with the International Medical Outreach Scholarship. I was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago by two immigrant parents and attended Davidson College for my undergraduate career. This coming February, I will be in Guatemala completing my family medicine rotation and carrying out two research projects, one on intraarticular knee injections and one on opioid addiction in individuals with chronic lower back pain. In Guatemala, there is a lack of healthcare support when it comes to orthopedic issues, and I wanted to see how physicians can better serve their patients in a rural setting. The scholarship will relieve the financial burden and allow me to further my understanding in global health research."
Spring 2022 Recipients
Dimitra Xenopoulou, OMS-II
New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
"I would wholeheartedly like to thank the SOMA Foundation, The Power of a Nickel Organization, and Dr. Stan and Barbara Grogg for their generosity in funding the International Medical Outreach Scholarship. As an immigrant and now a first-generation future physician, I am incredibly honored to be a recipient of this grant for it will afford me the opportunity to gain perspective on how culture, background, and language influence patients' apprehensions, questions, and outlook towards their health. With this scholarship, I will return to Athens (where I emigrated from as a kid!) and compile data for a report on the Greek education about and attitudes on skin cancer prevention and treatment. As an aspiring Dermatologist and as someone who has consistently volunteered internationally throughout her career thus far, I am beyond thankful for this incredible opportunity to continue to expand upon my desired niche in medicine."
New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
"I would wholeheartedly like to thank the SOMA Foundation, The Power of a Nickel Organization, and Dr. Stan and Barbara Grogg for their generosity in funding the International Medical Outreach Scholarship. As an immigrant and now a first-generation future physician, I am incredibly honored to be a recipient of this grant for it will afford me the opportunity to gain perspective on how culture, background, and language influence patients' apprehensions, questions, and outlook towards their health. With this scholarship, I will return to Athens (where I emigrated from as a kid!) and compile data for a report on the Greek education about and attitudes on skin cancer prevention and treatment. As an aspiring Dermatologist and as someone who has consistently volunteered internationally throughout her career thus far, I am beyond thankful for this incredible opportunity to continue to expand upon my desired niche in medicine."
Malak Benkhadra, OMS-III
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the SOMA Foundation and Power of a Nickel for your generosity in funding us. I am very honored to be the recipient of this award. The active support of friends and alumni such as yourself help us to continue to give back to our community and look forward to a bright future. As a first generation student and an immigrant from Morocco, I never dreamed of moving to this great nation with endless opportunities, and having a chance to pursue my dreams to a bright future as a medical professional. Your donation will alleviate some of the trip expenses and will allow me to better serve. This event will help me forge a new conception of medicine which I can uphold as a future physician. It is in being a doctor that I will have the ability to use the skills I have gained to help others at the interface where social problems and scientific discovery meet. One of my ultimate goals is to start a foundation called "No one left behind." The focus of the foundation is to help children from all around the world to start and complete school as well as guide them on their rightful and successful paths. Thus your donation will certainly go towards the start of this foundation. As a future physician, I want to contribute to human evolution and to a sustainable future for the human species. Believing in dreams has allowed me to better my situation and the situation of those around me, so thank you for believing in mine. We are grateful for your generosity, your trust, and importantly your commitment to our mission and we thank you for your generous support."
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the SOMA Foundation and Power of a Nickel for your generosity in funding us. I am very honored to be the recipient of this award. The active support of friends and alumni such as yourself help us to continue to give back to our community and look forward to a bright future. As a first generation student and an immigrant from Morocco, I never dreamed of moving to this great nation with endless opportunities, and having a chance to pursue my dreams to a bright future as a medical professional. Your donation will alleviate some of the trip expenses and will allow me to better serve. This event will help me forge a new conception of medicine which I can uphold as a future physician. It is in being a doctor that I will have the ability to use the skills I have gained to help others at the interface where social problems and scientific discovery meet. One of my ultimate goals is to start a foundation called "No one left behind." The focus of the foundation is to help children from all around the world to start and complete school as well as guide them on their rightful and successful paths. Thus your donation will certainly go towards the start of this foundation. As a future physician, I want to contribute to human evolution and to a sustainable future for the human species. Believing in dreams has allowed me to better my situation and the situation of those around me, so thank you for believing in mine. We are grateful for your generosity, your trust, and importantly your commitment to our mission and we thank you for your generous support."