Minority Short-Term Mission Scholarship

PURPOSE

Non-white healthcare providers are significantly under-represented in the healthcare missionary workforce.  The reasons for this are complex, but a contributing factor may be that some students and residents of color come from backgrounds and churches that don’t provide them with the same financial resources that their average white counterparts have access to.  This scholarship provides larger awards than some of our other existing mission scholarships to non-white students, residents, or fellows participating in an overseas mission rotation.  Junior or senior pre-med or pre-dental undergraduate students may also apply.

ELIGIBILITY

You must be:

  1. A CMDA member
  2. Non-white medical and dental students, residents, and fellows.
  3. Pre-med or pre-dental juniors or seniors are also eligible ($2,000 maximum award for undergraduate students; undergraduate students are not required to be CMDA members)
  4. Rotation length of at least 4 full work weeks.
  5. Demonstrate financial need to enable project participation.
  6. Priority is given to applicants open to/ interested in longer term mission service in the future

 

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 one month after each deadline. The amount of the grant is for transportation and project-related expenses.

  • Up to $2,000 for medical or dental students, residents, or fellows whose rotation will last between 4 and 6 weeks, or up to $3,500 for rotations lasting over 6 weeks.
  • Up to $2,000 for undergraduate students for rotations lasting at least 4 weeks.

 

CONDITIONS

Funds must be used for participation in a missionary medical preceptorship, clerkship or similar experience of four weeks or more in duration arranged by the recipient for completion within twelve months from the date of award.  Funds must be applied to fees related to the rotation/ clerkship, such as room, board, and travel.

Recipients are required to submit a 1-2 page typewritten report to CMDA within 30 days after completion of the overseas experience, including photographs if possible. The report should contain the following:

  • One memorable patient story and outcome
  • One spiritual insight gleaned along the way
  • One breakthrough in regard to language, culture, local life
  • One takeaway for your life moving forward

Due to limited funding, this program is not intended to duplicate other award programs where funding has been given.  You may apply for multiple CMDA scholarships for your trip.  If you qualify and are selected for more than one, the scholarship of greatest value will be awarded. 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 Associations immediately, withdrawing their application in order that other applicants may be funded.

For questions, please contact Administrative Assistant-Volunteer for Center for Advancing Healthcare Missions.

Contact the Administrative Assistant/Volunteer for the Center for Advancing Healthcare Missions:

  • Max. file size: 256 MB.

Missionsscholarship

Online Application:

Before an application will be considered, a letter of recommendation from the applicant's pastor or CMDA staff member must be submitted.  The letter should highlight the applicant's spiritual maturity and involvement in ministry. The reference is an attempt to do a 360-degree look at you from those who have good knowledge of your calling, spiritual commitment, passion for evangelism and your ability to work in an overseas missionary context. For undergraduate students, an additional letter of recommendation is required from their pre-med or pre-dental advisor.  This letter should attest to the fact that the applicant is a strong candidate for medical or dental school.  The letter (or letters) of reference should be sent to the Administrative Assistant/Volunteer for the Center for Advancing Healthcare Missions using the form on this page.

  • Application

    Before completing this application, please thoroughly read the guidelines for this award. Please give thoughtful and complete responses to every question. If after submitting you do not receive a message thanking you for completing the application, please contact the Administrative Assistant/Volunteer for the Center for Advancing Healthcare Missions.
  • For security reasons, you may call CMDA at 423-844-1000 to verbally submit your social security number after you complete and submit this online application.
  • If married, please list spouse's name and whether they'll be traveling with you.

  • Mission Trip

  • Please give as complete a budget as possible for your portion of the trip.
  • If your spouse and/ or children are traveling, please provide a budget for their portion of the trip here. Otherwise, leave blank.
  • Start date of intended service.

  • I understand that if my application is accepted, I will be responsible for my own actions, and further agree to release CMDA and waive any claims of whatever nature against CMDA arising from any act of any person, corporation or entity not under the direct supervision and control of CMDA. I have read and understood the conditions of this scholarship, agree to abide by them and accept full responsibility should I receive an award. Before submitting your application, please copy your application from this page and save it to a Word document. If after submitting you do not receive a message thanking you for completing the application, please contact the Administrative Assistant/Volunteer for the Center for Advancing Healthcare Missions. Thank you for your patience.