WAFP House of Delegates Meeting & WAFP Annual Scientific Assembly
The WAFP offers scholarship stipends to students to help cover the cost of attending the Annual Scientific Assembly and House of Delegates meeting (see description on previous page).  WAFP reimburses delegates and alternate delegates for one night’s lodging at the conference hotel. Students who choose to participate in the Scientific Assembly receive a waiver of registration fees.  Students participating in either event may apply for a scholarship stipend to assist with travel expenses.

National Conference of Family Medicine Residents & Students (NCFMRS)
The WAFP provides 5 scholarship stipends ($750 each) to support student attendance at the AAFP National Conference. Receipt of the scholarship stipend obligates the student to attend lectures, workshops and the Student Congress, in addition to networking and exhibiting in the exhibit hall. The scholarship recipient must submit a letter summarizing his/her experience along with the WAFP reimbursement form and original receipts.

Alfred O. Berg Student Award for Excellence in Family Medicine Research
The Alfred O. Berg Student Award for Excellence in Family Medicine Research is awarded each year to a fourth year student attending medical school in Washington State.  To be eligible, the student must be graduating that year and already be matched in a Family Medicine residency program; have completed a research project including a written report; and the work must be focused on original research in the area of Family Medicine.  Recipients for the $500 award are selected based upon scientific rigor, clear reporting, relevance to family medicine, and the potential impact on patient care, policy, public health, or education of the research project.

Family Medicine Research Externship Grants
Each year, the WAFP Foundation and AAFP offer grants to Washington State medical students who are interested in participating in Family Medicine Research Externships. These are usually scheduled between their first and second years of medical school. Students complete independent research projects under the mentorship of family physicians in the community and at their medical school. These studies meet research requirements for graduation and the final reports may be presented at research forums or conferences. Some studies result in peer-reviewed publications.

R/UOP
Rural/Underserved Opportunities Program: is a three week, elective immersion experience for students attending the University of Washington School of Medicine between their first and second years of medical school.  It allows participating students to work side-by-side with physicians in rural or urban underserved communities, where they are exposed to the challenges and rewards of practicing primary care medicine in these settings. The Washington Academy of Family Physicians Foundation sponsors 20-25 students each year with stipend support.

Endowed Family Medicine Scholarship
The Washington Academy of Family Physicians Foundation, in partnership with the UWSOM Department of Family Medicine staff and UW Development, have fully funded a scholarship endowment that will make scholarships available to fourth-year medical students interested in matching in Family Medicine.  The scholarship program will launch in the fall of 2009 and will provide assistance to UW medical students who might otherwise be discouraged from choosing careers in Family Medicine or choosing to practice in the areas of greatest need.

Pipeline Grant Program
The Pipeline Grant Program is in a pilot phase and will provide two grants of $1,000 to local resident and medical student groups who propose to create a sustainable project aimed at increasing the number of Washington medical students interested in family medicine careers. Grant applicants are encouraged to develop programs to educate and promote careers in family medicine to junior high, high school, undergraduate and medical students. Residents at Washington State Residency Programs and medical students attending Washington State medical schools are eligible to apply. Call for proposals will be announced via emails to Washington State residency program directors, and FMIG leaders and faculty advisors at Washington State medical schools. Call for proposals will also be published in Washington Family Physician journal.

Other Family Medicine Scholarships:

Pisacano Scholars Leadership Award
The Pisacano Leadership Foundation (PLF) seeks to advance family medicine by providing well-educated, community-minded leaders in primary care. By aiding students who demonstrate the highest levels of commitment to family medicine, scholarship, leadership, character, interpersonal skills, and community service, the PLF will promote the development of the future leaders in the specialty.

The Pisacano Scholars Leadership program is designed to provide educational programs, leadership training, and funding to reimburse a portion of medical-school-related debt. Scholarships will be awarded to outstanding medical students for a four-year period. Students who have made a commitment to the field of family medicine and who will enter their fourth year in medical school in the fall may apply.

To apply, or find further information about the Pisacano Leadership Foundation or the scholarship offered, visit them online at www.fpleaders.org.