Awards, Scholarships, and Fellowships

The Linda Brodsky MD Essay Award provides participants with a unique opportunity to express their thoughts and insights through an essay that aligns with the principles and values exemplified by Dr. Linda Brodsky. It honors the women who have mentored, inspired, and encouraged young students to become physicians.  In response to a thought-provoking question prompt, participants are encouraged to delve into their own experiences, perspectives, and aspirations, allowing them to reflect on and honor the ideals upheld by this remarkable physician. Through their essays, participants have the chance to contribute to the ongoing legacy of Dr. Brodsky by exploring themes related to mentorship, cultural competence, self-awareness, and the transformative power of literature in healthcare.

Dr. Linda Brodsky was a pediatric otolaryngologist in Buffalo, NY and a lifetime member of AMWA.  She had been a role model and mentor to many physicians throughout her career.  In 2000, she became an activist for fair treatment of women physicians, after winning a lawsuit against her university and local hospital for Pay Discrimination. Through her business, WomenMDResources, she helped women physicians “get the jobs they want, the pay they deserve, and not become prisoners of their careers.”  She was co-chair of the AMWA Gender Equity Task Force with Dr. Gebhard in 2013, but passed away in February of 2014 after sustained a subdural hematoma from a fall.

Award Information:

• The winner of the contest will be presented with a $500 scholarship provided by the Linda Brodsky Memorial Fund at the Annual Meeting and will have their peer reviewed essay published as the featured essay in the next edition of AMWA’s Linda Brodsky Memorial Journal, a Medical Student Press Journal.  It is encouraged to attend the annual meeting. The winner of the contest will receive a travel grant and FREE student registration to the annual meeting (March 27-29, 2026 in San Francisco, CA).
• Select non-winning essays will also result in peer reviewed publication in the AMWA’s Linda Brodsky memorial Journal.

The 2026 Prompts

Please choose ONE of the following prompts to answer:

Prompt 1: Dr. Linda Brodsky often drew strength from powerful words and quotes to sustain her during moments of struggle. If you had to choose one word that captures your vision for gender equity in medicine, what would it be? In your essay, share the word you chose and explain why it resonates with you. Tell a personal story from your life or training that illustrates the meaning of this word, and reflect on how it connects to Dr. Brodsky’s mission of helping women physicians “get the jobs they want, be paid what they deserve, and have it all.” Conclude by describing how you will carry this word with you as you continue your career in medicine.

Prompt 2: Dr. Brodsky transformed her personal fight for equity into a movement that supported others. She mentored countless women physicians and founded Women MD Resources to ensure that future generations could thrive. Think of a mentor who has shaped your understanding of equity and advocacy—this could be a family member, teacher, colleague, or physician. Share how this person influenced your path and what lessons you carry from them. If you had to dedicate a song, quote, or symbolic gesture to honor their mentorship, what would it be, and why? Conclude by describing how you hope to “pay it forward” by serving as a mentor or advocate yourself, continuing the legacy of Dr. Brodsky and others who opened doors for you.

Application Open through January 15, 2026

Email completed essay as an attached document to [email protected]. Please submit all files in PDF format.

Please keep essays under 1000 words. All applicants must be national AMWA medical student members. Please include with your essay your full name, medical school, year in school, and first year of national AMWA membership. Be sure to include a title for your essay. Please also include a professional headshot and a short bio (less than 175 words). Winning essays will articulate the applicant’s tools and strengths used to overcome adversity, as well as what was ultimately gained and learned from the experience. They will also have superior writing style in terms of grammar, organization, style and tone. The impact the experience described had on the applicant will also be evaluated. All applicants will receive email notification of receipt of application. By submitting an essay, all applicants give permission to publish their essays in the Peer Reviewed Medical Student Press Journal.

All winning essays are featured in AMWA’s Linda Brodsky Memorial Journal, courtesy of The Medical Student Press!

We at national AMWA know that the cost of joining medical school organizations can add up, so we’d like to help. Supporting your membership in national AMWA is important to us, which is why AMWA awards 10 (ten) scholarships to waive the cost of national membership in AMWA ($75.00 value per person for ALL of your years in medical  school). Awardees will be chosen based on the embodiment of the goals of AMWA. Financial need, though not a requirement, is also considered.

What it is: The AMWA Residency Application Scholarship Fund is meant for medical students who are graduates of or plan to graduate from an LCME accredited American allopathic or osteopathic medical school and who have financial need. This scholarship is meant to ease some of the financial burden that accompanies the application process to residency programs. Applicants will write a short essay, no more than 350 words, describing their need and why the scholarship would help alleviate that need. Recipients are expected to continue their involvement with AMWA as a resident member, and complimentary residency membership will be awarded. This award is gift that AMWA is providing to the selected applicants. Repayment of the amount received is not required. AMWA does ask that recipients consider giving back to AMWA in the future in a way that they deem appropriate when they are able.

Scholarship Amount: $250

For over a decade, Eliza Lo Chin, M.D. has been an active member and driving force within AMWA. She was the President during AMWA’s 95th Anniversary Year and currently serves as the Executive Director.

Throughout the 99th Anniversary Year, Dr. Chin provided guidance, made significant contributions and acted as a mentor for many of the AMWA Student Division leaders. She often carved time out of her busy day as a mother of three children and internist to respond to emails in record time, be present on conference calls and one-on-one phone planning meetings. Dr. Chin took an interest in mentoring and encouraged students to step-up to leadership roles.

Prior to the 99th Annual Meeting, the Medical Student Division leadership elected to honor her behind-the-scenes contributions by establishing the Dr. Eliza Lo Chin Unsung Hero Award. This annual award is presented to the Premedical or Medical Student Division leader nominated by her fellow AMWA leaders that makes substantial – but unrecognized – contributions to AMWA. The award recipient will be announced during the Annual Meeting and will receive a cash award

This award is given to recognize the AMWA Medical student branch that has made exceptional strides in their activities for the year, including recruitment efforts, service projects, and professional activities. A grant of $250 will be awarded to further branch efforts and programming. Branch presidents may self-nominate their local AMWA branches.

AMWA honors the memory of Anne C. Carter, MD, with an annual award for outstanding medical student leadership. The candidate must be nominated by an AMWA student branch and must have demonstrated exceptional leadership skills through vision, inspiration, innovation, and coordination of local projects that further the mission of AMWA by improving women’s health and/or supporting women in medicine. Both the award recipient and the nominating branch will receive funds. Awardees will be honored during AMWA’s Annual Meeting. Attendance at the meeting is strongly encouraged. The stipend may be used to assist in the cost of attendance. Nominating branches will need to submit a statement supporting the nominee as well as the nominee’s current CV and contact information.

Please note that the current Student Division President and President-Elect are not eligible for this award.

The Anne C. Carter Global Health Fellowship awards four AMWA medical student members with a two year fellowship focused on global health. The Carter Fellowship is both dynamic and multidisciplinary. The first year of the fellowship focuses on a global health curriculum, mentorship, and helping the fellow successfully plan the project. The second year of fellowship focuses on in-depth planning and preparation for a medical service-learning trip. The fellows selected for the next cohort will be expected to actively work with their predecessors, as well as assist the subsequent class in their transition, to provide good continuity within the Fellowship.

Each Fellow will have $750 to fund her local project planning and to subsidize expenses for her international global health project. Fellows will not be required to travel abroad if medical school scheduling does not allow; however, all Fellows must plan a capstone project, even if the project addresses a more local global health issue. Throughout the two year tenure, Fellows will also serve as active members of the AMWA Global Health Committee.

For more information about the fellowship, please visit the Carter Fellow’s website.

AMWA recognizes the financial assistance our medical student members may need when planning to attend our meeting. We offer extremely discounted registration prices to our medical student members. In addition, we offer travel grants to make our conference more affordable for those who have a greater cost. Travel grants will be awarded in amounts of $100 per person (as a discount for registration). Please note that award winners will be chosen by lottery following the application deadline above. All awardees will be required to volunteer at the conference.

APPLY

AMWA welcomes students of any level to volunteer with AMWA. Interested individuals may wish to apply for an AMWA internship. Students who are interested in getting involved on a larger scale should consider applying for AMWA’s Service Recognition Award.

The Shobha S. Krishnan HPV and Cervical Cancer Award recognizes a candidate who has demonstrated exemplary interest and creativity in making a positive difference in HPV and cervical cancer prevention. Dr. Krishnan is an active member of AMWA. She provides guidance and acts as a mentor to many AMWA medical students. She is the Founder and President of Global Initiative Against HPV and Cervical Cancer (GIAHC) and author of the national and international award-winning book The HPV Vaccine Controversy: Sex, Cancer, God and Politics (Praeger 2008)

The GIAHC Young Leaders program (45 and younger) provides a global platform for youth advocates to network and exchange knowledge regarding HPV and cervical cancer. The goal of the platform is to empower the next generation to play a proactive role in the reduction of HPV related diseases in both males and females through education, awareness building, vaccination, screening and early treatment.

The award is open to any AMWA member who has been actively involved in the GIAHC Young Leaders Program. Each award includes a cash gift of US $300 and a letter of appreciation. The awardee is jointly selected by the GIAHC leadership. There is no application. Award recipients are selected from the pool of individuals who have worked directly with GIAHC and have shown tremendous interest and dedication to the cause.

For more information, contact [email protected].

We at national AMWA know that the cost of a medical education can be daunting, so we’d like to help. Supporting your medical education is important to us, and with this in mind, AMWA awards 4 (four) $500 scholarships to women currently enrolled in medical school. Awardees will be chosen based on the embodiment of the goals of AMWA. Financial need, though not a requirement, is also considered. A letter of recommendation is required.

The Haffizulla Family Scholarship Fund was founded by AMWA President Dr. Farzanna Haffizulla during her term of office. During her tenure on the executive board, Dr. Haffizulla founded AMWA’s Preventive Medicine Task Force in line with her fervent promotion of nationwide health, fitness and wellness. This scholarship is meant to perpetuate the involvement of young leaders in disease prevention and national health and wellness. A maximum of two scholarships each in the amount of $1,000 will be awarded by Dr. Farzanna Haffizulla.

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must have been actively involved in the student division of AMWA for at least two years.

We know that the cost of USMLE/COMLEX test prep might be beyond a medical student’s budget, so we would like to help.  National AMWA has partnered with Lecturio and we are excited to announce that AMWA will be awarding two (2) three-month Lecturio scholarships.

Lecturio’s mission is to provide students and faculty with the best learning tools, proven effective by learning science. They understand the challenges all students face as they endeavor to master the vast amount of foundational science needed to become outstanding healthcare providers. They know that true mastery of this material and the global shortage of healthcare professionals requires a paradigm shift in how medicine is taught. In order to take on this challenge, Lecturio created a high-quality digital medical education resource, which is affordable, adaptive, and personalized. They designed their platform with the needs of learners and faculty in mind, combined with the latest state-of-the-art learning technology and comprehensive monitoring and assessment features.

The scholarships will be awarded for use towards one (1) three-month Lecturio subscription.  Awardees will be chosen based on embodiment of the goals of AMWA. Financial need is also considered.

Created in 2008 and initially funded by Wyeth and Roberta Rubin, the Young Women in Science Award recognizes outstanding medical student achievement in basic science and research. These awards are given to the first through third place winners of the medical student poster presentation at the AMWA Annual Meeting. Research posters are evaluated on the basis of basic science, presentation, and commitment to an innovative and significant research project which contributes to scientific and medical knowledge. Winners are recognized at the AMWA Annual Meeting and receive cash prizes.

Please refer to the Annual Meeting page for more information about submitting abstracts and for updates. Abstracts selected for poster presentation at the Annual Meeting will be evaluated by AMWA Judges. Submissions require approval from all authors prior to acceptance, and all accepted abstracts will be published in an online abstract booklet. Please email the Medical Student Conference Chairs with any questions.

Regional Prizes: Each AMWA Medical Student Regional Conference is eligible for scholarships prizes. For more information, please contact the External Relations Chair at least 2-weeks before the event.

• SKETCHY would like to offer each of AMWA medical students division’s 9 regions a one (1) one-year scholarship for one AMWA member at each of the 9 regional conferences
• LECTURIO would like to offer each of AMWA medical students division’s 9 regions a one (1) one-year scholarship for one AMWA member at each of the 9 regional conferences.
• OSMOSIS would like to offer each of AMWA medical students division’s 9 regions a one (1) six-month scholarship for one AMWA member at each of the 9 regional conferences.
• ScholarRx would like to offer each of AMWA medical students division’s 9 regions a one (1) one-year scholarship for one AMWA member at each of the 9 regional conferences.

AMWA will award the Glasgow-Rubin Citation for Academic Achievement to women who graduate in the top ten percent of their medical school graduating classes. AMWA will also award a separate Certificate of Commendation for any woman who graduates first in her medical school class. Many medical schools participate in the program with AMWA and present these certificates to women of achievement at their graduation ceremonies. AMWA receives the names of these students from the administrations of participating medical schools. The awardees are at the discretion of the schools.

To participate, medical school administrators can apply here.

Award Information