2025 Leadership Scholarship

The Oregon Medical Education Foundation's Leadership Scholarship is helping Oregon’s current PA, DO, and MD student leaders thrive!  Launched in 2021 to recognize the leadership talent and potential of students pursuing a medical education in Oregon, this competitive scholarship is awarded to at least one PA, one DO, and one MD student each year. Scholars may be selected to receive additional supports, such as a mentor.  

While not strictly need-based, financial need is a key screening point. This scholarship aims to identify and support students at the intersection of financial need and leadership development, who have a track record of community impact and who, if financial or other obstacles were removed, would be able to achieve more and faster.      

This scholarship is unique from other awards in that we seek to build a relationship with Scholars through mentorship and other assistance to help them throughout their medical education.  Therefore, while exceptions may be made for outstanding students, preference may be given to those graduating after December 2025.

We understand that scholarship applications are an investment in time, so to help you decide whether to apply we have provided some additional guidance:

· Students enrolled and in good academic standing in the programs listed to the right are eligible to apply.  

· Financial need is a key screening point.

· Our preference is that applicants are 12 months or more away from their anticipated graduation date.

Before you begin the application, gather:

· OMA Student Membership number

· pdf: Personal Statement

· pdf: Post-Graduation Plans

· pdf: Letter of Good Academic Standing from the Registrar of your current institution, dated after January 1, 2025

In addition to the online application, we require:

· Letter of Recommendation from a faculty member

· Letter of Recommendation from a community organization that you have worked or volunteered with 

Everything but the online application should be in PDF form and have your name on it.

Use the Student Application button below to start your application.  

Please note, the student application must be completed in one session, you will not be able to save/come back to it. 

No login is required.  

One application per student.

Direct your references to this site and the Letter of Recommendation button to submit letters of recommendation. Letters can be submitted at any time before the deadline; your reference does not have to wait for you to submit your application.

All materials are due by noon on Friday, January 31, 2025.  

Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

If you are selected as a finalist, we will schedule an interview with our review panel during the late week of February or first week of March. All applicants will be notified once the committee has made their decision, no later than April 1.  Scholarship winners will be invited to the Wellness Retreat (April 12-13) and recognized at the Future of Medicine Dinner (Friday, October 17).  

Detailed information about each piece of the application process is below.

Thank you and good luck!

Questions?  Contact OMEF (hello@theomef.org).  

You must be an OMA Student Member to apply and will need your OMA membership number for the application. There is no cost to become a Student Member.

To become a member, click here.

If you are a member and need to find your membership number, click here.

If you have any trouble with the above, please contact membership@theOMA.org

Online Application

Complete all required fields. There is a space for additional context not easily captured in your Personal Statement.

PDF: Personal Statement

One page, no font/spacing requirements   

With a focus on your leadership development, share what inspired you to study medicine and any experience you've had as a leader.  Describe your role, quantify your impact, note lessons you have learned, and tell us how those pertain to your future in medicine.  This may be, but does not have to be, connected to your Community Leadership Letter of Recommendation.  

PDF: Post-Graduation Plans

Half page, no font/spacing requirements  

Describe your plans after graduation in as much detail as you feel comfortable. This may include your specialty, how you chose it, where you plan to practice, and what skills and competencies make you suited for that work.

PDF: Letter of Academic Good Standing

On your program's letterhead, typically provided by your Registrar, this should include your start date, expected graduation date, program of study, and that you are in good academic standing. This letter should be dated after January 1, 2025.

 PDF: Academic Letter of Recommendation 

A thoughtful letter from a current member of your program's faculty that speaks specifically to your leadership and academic potential.  

PDF: Community Leadership Letter of Recommendation

A thoughtful letter from someone you worked or volunteered with that speaks specifically to your strengths and experience as a leader.  May be from any time or place in your life, ideally not connected to your academic program.  Volunteer leadership examples are preferred but not required.