Gynecology & Obstetrics Scholarships
Help Offset the High Tuition
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, gynecologists and obstetricians make up roughly 5.3% of the over half-million American physicians and surgeons currently practicing. Jobs in this field are likely to remain competitive, with a probable increase of 16-24% in the coming year for OB/GYN nurses and doctors (especially in rural areas).
However, the cost associated with medical training comes with a substantial price tag as a result of many years of schooling followed by internships and residency requirements. Consequently, many graduate students and residents actively seek out financial aid in the form of student loans, grants, fellowships, and scholarships to pay for the cost of their credentials.
Below are some of the scholarship related funding options available to those planning to enter the progressive world of gynecology and obstetrics.
National Health Service Corps
The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) offers a NHSC Federal Scholarship Program (handled by “Discovery Logic” of Rockville, Maryland) that covers tuition, fees, and around $1,157 in expenses for recipients. In exchange for this funding, physicians must agree to serve for at least two years as OB/GYN professionals in a federally-designated U.S. “physician shortage” area. Generally, about 350 new NHSC Federal Scholarships are awarded each year.
East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University provides an annual James and Mary Bruce Mazza Obstetrics/Gynecology Residency Award Endowment scholarship. Recipients must be senior medical students who are also residents of the Tri-Cities Tennessee/Southwest Virginia area. Monies are used to financially support medical students who have been accepted to an OB/GYN residency program.
Illinois Department of Public Health
The Illinois Department of Public Health’s Medical Student Scholarship Program has been instituted to increase the number of obstetrics/gynecology physicians practicing in underserved Illinois areas. Eligible individuals must be Illinois residents who have been accepted to or already enrolled in an Illinois-based medical school. This award covers tuition, fees, and living expenses (up to $950/month) for one year. The Medical Student Scholarship Program is handled through each individual Illinois medical school; thus, applications are available through each institute of higher education’s financial aid office.
Michigan State University
The Bruce H. Drukker, M.D., Endowed Award of Excellence in Obstetrics and Gynecology provides residency relocation and related expenses underwriting to recipients. Applicants must have received above-average scores on USMLE Step II in Obstetrics & Gynecology; additionally, nominees must have been chosen and accepted to an accredited OB/GYN residency program upon their graduation from MSU.
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine
The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), in partnership with the American Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Foundation (AAOGF), offers a funding stream for obstetrics and gynecology fellows in the form of an SMFM/AAOGF Scholarship Award. Applicants must have already completed maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) training or be in their second or third years of education in this subspecialty. Because this is a research-based scholarship of $100,000, a detailed budget, lengthy project description, and other written materials must be submitted for consideration.
University of Iowa
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cambridge University offers an annual $1,500 Cambridge University OB/GYN Scholarship. Applicants must be third-year medical students who plan to pursue studies obstetric and gynecology studies at The University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. The scholarship “term” lasts for four weeks during the winning candidate’s fourth year of medical training, typically in February.
West Virginia Rural Health Education Partnerships
The state of West Virginia has taken steps to entice OB/GYN professionals to bring their skills to its rural regions. One of its initiatives, the State Loan Repayment Program, entitles award recipients to receive $40,000 over a period of two years to be used to repay any qualified government or commercial educational training debts the obstetrician and/or gynecologist may have incurred while receiving his or her degree. In exchange for this funding, applicants must agree to work in an underserved part of the state for at least two years.
