About the ElevateMeD Scholars Program

Launched in 2020, the ElevateMeD Scholars Program is a multifaceted program designed to develop the next generation of physician leaders from African-American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, and Native/Indigenous backgrounds.

Our program benefits:

Each Scholar will be awarded a tuition-based scholarship as a medical student enrolled in one of our partner schools. In addition to scholarship support, Scholars receive physician mentorship, leadership development opportunities, financial literacy, and access to ElevateMeD network support. They are invited to our annual Explosion of a Dream Scholars Summit, an all expenses paid internal conference, where they receive storytelling and public speaking coaching, financial literacy education and workshops tailored to their professional development.

The ElevateMeD Scholars program is built on the following five pillars:

+ click each pillar to learn more

Cost is the top detractor for bright and talented undergraduates to pursue a career in medicine. Medical students from underrepresented backgrounds face higher levels of indebtedness than their counterparts. Annually, we award tuition-based scholarships to minimize the debt burden for medical students from underrepresented backgrounds who have proven themselves leaders in their communities and align with our mission and vision. We partner with donors to provide additional funding to Scholars who have career plans to address critical needs within healthcare.
Mentorship is a critical aspect of career development and a primary need for medical students from underrepresented backgrounds. Each ElevateMeD Scholar is partnered with a physician mentor based on their needs who will help guide and support academic success and professional growth.
Leadership development is an essential component in supporting the next generation of diverse physician leaders. Scholars engage in executive coaching in addition to leadership initiatives and programming throughout the year to ensure they are provided with tools to achieve their professional goals.
- Scholars are introduced to the Birkman assessment with a didactic led by a leading expert in Birkaman coaching.
- Scholars complete a Birkman leadership assessment, a comprehensive leadership assessment used in Fortune 500 companies across the globe in top executives.
- Scholars have the opportunity to dive deep and debrief on the many ways a leadership assessment can help refine and further develop specific skills. The scholars will have a 1 hour debrief session and one 30 min follow up session with a coach who is a leading expert in the field. Scholars will have an opportunity to schedule an optional 30 min session to further work on leadership skills.
- Scholars will begin working on an individualized Leadership Action Plan (LAP). This longitudinal plan will be further developed with scholars' mentors.
Financial literacy is a component of the ElevateMeD programming that is designed to ensure that ElevateMeD Scholars have a sustainable and fulfilling career in medicine. From managing a personal budget and understanding loan repayment options to learning the fundamentals of healthcare finance and entrepreneurship, ElevateMeD Scholars are poised to navigate successful transitions through their career.
The ElevateMeD Scholars program stretches across the U.S., and provides a unique opportunity for Scholars to thrive alongside a diverse network of peers while early in their careers. Beginning with the ElevateMeD Explosion of a Dream Scholars Summit, the ElevateMeD Scholars deepen their relationships with one another and the organization. Through our Board of Directors, Advisory Board, Mentors, Award recipients and donors, the ElevateMeD network creates a community that allows our Scholars to be further supported along their physician journey by their future colleagues and friends.