Visiting Student Diversity Scholarship

The University of South Alabama Department of Surgery is proud to offer a Visiting Student Diversity Scholarship to provide support for fourth-year medical students interested in participating in a four-week surgical Acting-Internship at our academic medical center. The mission of the scholarship is to expose medical students from underrepresented backgrounds to the General Surgery training program in the Department of Surgery at USA. The award aims to increase the number of Under-Represented in Medicine (URM) trainees in the General Surgery residency program at USA and in surgery as a whole. Medical students selected for this scholarship will be invited for a residency interview at USA.

Eligibility

  • Fourth-year medical student in good standing at an accredited U.S. allopathic/osteopathic medical school
  • Student must self-identify as under-represented in medicine (URM - African American, Hispanic, Native American, Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian).
  • Students must have completed all core clerkships.
  • Students must have successfully passed USMLE Step 1.

Scholars Receive

  • $1,500 stipend toward travel, food and housing
  • Matched with a resident mentor
  • Matched with two faculty mentors: one within the AI of choice (colorectal, GI surgery, Surgical Critical Care) and Dr. Maryann Mbaka, assistant program director.
  • One-on-one advisement with General Surgery Program Director Dr. Leander Grimm
  • Networking opportunities with faculty, residents and students interested in your success
  • Dinner with General Surgery residency leadership and select residents

Scholar Responsibilities and Rotation Details

  • One-month rotation on Colorectal Surgery, GI and Laparoscopic Surgery or Surgical Critical Care at University Hospital
  • Attendance at weekly resident didactics
  • Attendance at weekly Grand Rounds
  • Visiting students will adhere to the appropriate USA Health and USA College of Medicine COVID-19 safety protocols while participating in an elective.

How to Apply

Please send the following to Tyronda Rogers, General Surgery residency program coordinator, at tmrogers@health.southalabama.edu:

Visiting students can begin an in-person away rotation no earlier than August 14, 2023, which corresponds with Block 3 of the AY 2023-2024 M4 academic calendar. Applications must be received by May 31, 2023. Awards will be made by June 30.