Financial Assistance

University of Arizona medical students who take both FCM 896A (Global Health: Clinical and Community Care) and FCM 891Fi (Global Health preceptorship) are eligible for funding from several funds.  Contact Arleen Heimann for more information.

The following list of national organizations may be able to help you with funding for your global health experience. 

American Medical Women's Association: Overseas Assistance Grants  http://www.amwa-doc.org/awhs/overseas-assistance-grants      The AWHS Overseas Assistance Grant provides assistance with transportation costs (airfare, train travel, etc) up to $1500 connected with pursuing medical studies in an off-campus setting where the medically neglected will benefit. Must be an AMWA second, third, or fourth year student or resident member from an accredited US medical school.  Spend at least 6 weeks in a sponsored program which will serve the medically underserved.  Apply a minimum of 3 months prior to departure.  Details and appllication online and attached in PDF format.  Guidelines - Application  Contact: Awards Chair at awards [at] amwa-student [dot] org with questions

American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene: http://www.astmh.org/ASTMH_Sponsored_Fellowships/
      With the exception of the Kean Fellowship (below) these awards are for research at the post-MD level.

Benjamin Kean Traveling Fellowship: More information     Application deadline is mid-March.   Administered by ASTMH Clinical Group, provides round trip airfare and up to $1000 toward living expenses.  Application period is in February, with deadline beginning of March.  You must be a North American medical student at the time of application, propose an elective in clinical tropical medicine with at least one month at a site endemic for tropical communicable diseases.

CDC-Hubert Global Health Fellowship: http://www.cdc.gov/hubertfellowship/
        Administered by CDC, Hubert fellows spend 6-12 weeks in a developing country working on a priority health problem with CDC staff. Apply in 2nd or 3rd year of medical school. You must be a 3rd of 4th year medical student during the time you participate.You select from Assignment Opportunities which specifies date and requried skills and languages.  Application deadline is mid-February.

CIDRZ (Center for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia): http://www.cidrz.org/hivcorps   HIVCorps Fellowship Program - open to medical and public health students
      CIDRZ is a Zambian organization affiliated with the University of Alabama at Birmigham (UAB).   The HIVCorps fellowship is targeted at medical, nursing, or MPH students who are able to delay their studies for a year; recent graduates who wish to gain international experience; and college graduates with substantial skills or experience.  Five fellows will be selected to work in Lusaka, Zambia.  10-12 month duration. All applicants must be available to start in early July. Submit application from URL above.  Application due early March and start date is early July.

Child Family Health International (CFHI) - An NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Provides global health immersion programs involving 1-3 month internships with physicians working in underserved communities, in programs in more than 20 sites throughout Bolivia, Ecuador, India, Mexico and South Africa.  Scholarships are available with deadlines in mid-August and mid-December  To learn more about scholarships go to: http://www.cfhi.org/web/index.php/xcms/showpage/page/Scholarships. Application deadlines - 4 per year depending on program.  To learn more about their programs, check their homepage:  http://www.cfhi.org.  Apply early to take advantage of discounts.

Christian Medical and Dental Associations (CMDA):  http://www.cmda.org
       James S. Westra Memorial Endowment Fund. (http://www.cmda.org/WCM/CMDA/Navigation/Missions/Scholarships/WestraMissionsScholarship/Westra_Missions_Scho.aspx) CMDA offers a program of grants-in-aid through the James S. Westra Memorial Endowment Fund that provides selected medical/dental students with clinical experiences of two weeks or more in mission settings in developing countries. The awards cover transportation and project-related expenses up to $1000. Applicants must be a CMDA member, a third or fourth year medical/dental student enrolled in a traditional four-year program, be able to show financial need. Application deadlines: April 1, August 1 and Dec 1. Pprintout applications from website . Contact: James S. Westra Memorial Endowment Fund Coordinator, ph: (423) 844-1000; e-mail: executive [at] cmda [dot] org

Fogarty Global Health Program for Fellows and Scholars: http://www.fic.nih.gov/Programs/Pages/scholars-fellows-global-health.aspx       Each research Fellowship will be for a one year period.  The term begins with an intensive orientation program on the NIH campus followed by approximately 10+ months of intense research training at the international site. Deadline early April.

            A key NMF initiative is mentored externships that focus on improving the educational experiences of minority medical students that can also increase access of underserved populations to quality healthcare delivery. The GE/NMF Medical Scholars Program enhances the knowledge skills and competencies of health professionals serving a diverse client population nationally and globally, provides a program model of mentored externship experiences for 4^th year US minority medical students, and improves patient care in partner countries. GE/NMF Medical Scholars complete a two-month elective in Ghana or Uganda, West Africa that focuses on critical regional health care needs.
             This two-month  clinical/public health elective is conducted in district hospitals, and focuses on critical health care issues such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes, tuberculosis, heart disease, cancer, and infant mortality.  

International Mission Board (IMB) : http://www.imb.org
            See IMB Students Link http://www.thetask.org/templates/System/details.asp?id=44564&PID=795337 for suggestions
            Ghana - Baptist Medical Center - IMB has program to pay your expenses 
                                              http://www.gowestafrica.org/BMC/medical_volunteers_needed.php

MAP International Fellowship: http://www.map.org/content/map-fellows   The fellowship program encourages lifelong involvement in global health issues by provided selected medical students firsthand exposure in a Christian context to the health, social and cultural characteristics of a developing world community.  It sponsors 4th year medical students by funding travel arrangement to their chosen destination.  Must be a 4th year medical student, resident or intern.  Applications (online) must be submitted during the academic year prior to travel.  Must spend at last 8 weeks in the field.  Application deadline is June1. Contact: bbohl [at] map [dot] org

National Medical Fellowships: http://www.nmfonline.org
          They offer need-based scholarships, merit scholarship, and medical fellowships: http://www.nmfonline.org/pages/programs---landing         Contact NMF (NYC): 1-877-NMF-1DOC or email: info [at] nmfonline [dot] org

Sara's Wish Scholarship Fund: http://www.saraswish.org/scholarships/
         Awarded to young women commited to making the world a better place. Preliminary applications (online) are reviewed from October through January. 

Steury Medical Student Scholarship Fund: More Details.   Provided by the Christian Medical and Dental Associations.

These are funding sites within the University of Arizona for UA students

Biomedical Research Abroad: http://ubrp.arizona.edu/bravo/
       The purpose of BRAVO/MHIRT! is to provide students the opportunity to conduct biomedical or behavioral research related tothe reduction of healt hdisparities at institutioons in othe countries.  Students selected to participate must have a minimum of 6 months of research experience prior to applying.  Support is restricted to ethnic minotiry students who are American citizens or permanent residents and who are seedking the doctoral or health professions advanced degree.  more details

Graduate and Professional Students Council: GPSC Travel Grants: http://www.gpsc.arizona.edu/travel-grants   Forms and criteria online

Medical Student Research Program (MSRP): http://msrp.medicine.arizona.edu/
     See website for more details about the program

University of Arizona Travel Grants: http://www.gpsc.arizona.edu/travel-grants
            Contact the Travel Grants Program prior to applying to get details.  The student's statement and the faculty letter of recommendation should explicity explain the importance for the student's professional development.  Very competitive.
            Students can get up to $300 to cover travel costs from this. These are the same funds that are granted for travel to conferences as well, so a student who uses $300 for international travel CANNOT get subsequent funding for conference travel in the same year. Also, the experience CANNOT earn academic credit, so fourth year students doing international rotations are not eligible. 

Additional Resources:

Stephens, ST. How to Plan, Prepare for, and Maximize an International Health Rotation.  AAFP Family Medicine Residents and Students National Conference; Jule 31, 2010.  PDF attached

International Education Financial Aid: http://www.iefa.org/
      IEFA is a resource for financial aid, college scholarship and grant information for US and international students wishing to study abroad.  This is a place to search for scholarships.

University of Washington funding list: http://depts.washington.edu/ihg/funding.htm
       A list put together by UW with details for application. 

STA Travel USA for assistance in finding low cost flights: http://www.statravel.com/