HISTORY

James P. Owen had a keen interest in missionary medicine. He died in 1981 while a senior medical student at Southwestern Medical School. The James P. Owen Memorial Endowment Fund was established by his wife in loving memory of her husband.

PURPOSE

To provide financial aid for students at Southwestern Medical School in Dallas to participate in a healthcare missions clerkship or short-term trip. Recipients gain clinical experience in settings that will enable them to become familiar with the cultural, social and medical problems in developing countries. Trips must be to a Christian facility, or with a team that provides both medical and spiritual care to patients, in the name of Jesus.

ELIGIBILITY

You must be:

1. A CMDA member (Join Now), and adherent to the CMDA Statement of Faith
2. A medical student enrolled at Southwestern Medical School in Dallas
3. Able to demonstrate financial need to enable project participation
4. Interest in healthcare missions

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Applications are reviewed quarterly. Your application must be received at least three months before your trip, but additional lead time is helpful in ensuring any funds awarded are sent out before you travel. Applications must be submitted online via the form on this page.

AWARDS

Awards will be announced by email. The amount of the grant is for transportation and project-related expenses up to $1,000.

CONDITIONS

Funds must be used for participation in an explicitly Christian missionary medical preceptorship, clerkship, or similar experience arranged by the student for completion within twelve months from the date of award.

Recipients are required to submit a typewritten report to CMDA within 60 days after completion of the overseas experience, including photographs if possible. The report should contain a summary of activities and an assessment of the value of the experience for the student. Both the report and photos will be kept on file here unless specified otherwise.

Due to limited funding, this program is not intended to duplicate other award programs where funding has been given. Where partial funding has been provided from other sources, our award would be limited to the amount necessary to meet (but not exceed) full travel and project-related expenses. If full funding has been provided by other organizations, churches, mission board or foundation awards, applicants are requested to notify the Christian Medical & Dental Association immediately, withdrawing their application in order that other applicants may be funded.

For questions regarding the scholarship, contact CMDA's Center for Advancing Healthcare Missions Administrative Assistant by using the form on this page.