Pediatric College Scholarships
Helping You Help the Little Children
No one can doubt your reasons behind specializing in pediatrics. The lure of little children fuels our desire to protect and heal them, but the cost of learning this art is massive. According to the American Medical Association, the cost of being trained for these positions has increased to a point where the debt incurred has become unmanageable for the graduating physician. Fortunately, there are scholarships that can help you with these surmounting costs.
Organizations of Interest
Future pediatric specialists should brush up on organizations specific to their field. Examples are the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, or the American Academy of Pediatrics. Both offer information on board testing and on scholarships.
Commitment Based Scholarships
Wouldn’t it be nice if one could go to school and earn a degree and have a job as soon as you finish? Well that is the idea behind commitment-based scholarships. Organizations like the National Health Service Corps will pay your 4-year expenses in exchange for you working General Pediatrics in an area of need. At the National Health Service Corps, every year they pay for you to go to school, you get a job for 2 years. At the National Institute of Health, students can apply for employment, or internships that will repay your pediatric education.
Diversity Scholarships
The American Medical Association tells us that of all the specialties and subspecialties, 19 % of U.S. Physicians are Pediatricians. Of that 19% very few are minority and fewer still are minority women. There are scholarships offered to help decrease the financial load of those that would bridge this gap. For African Americans, National Medical Fellowships offers yearly scholarships, fellowships and awards based on merit, or need. For African American Women, the American Association of University Women has the Selected Professions Fellowship for 3 rd or final year students up to $25000 per year in aid. American Indians, or even those willing to serve their population can earn grants and scholarships through Indian Health Service Scholarship Program or the Health Professions Scholarships.
Mission Based Scholarships
Are you one of the special few that consider this path a calling? Do you have the desire to travel around the world while you help the international needs of children? If so, there are scholarships in Pediatrics just for you. The first place to start is the Christian Medical and Dental Association. CMDA has multiple scholarships from 1 st year students to residency. Child Family Health International offers need-based scholarships to students from Senior Year of Pre-med through Residency. Child Family Health International will accept pediatric nursing applicants as well.
Military Based Scholarships
Finally, don’t forget to consider Military Scholarships. Three branches of the US Military offer scholarships, stipends and residencies in exchange for the services of a doctor. These are The Army, The Navy and The Air Force. You have the option to be a member of their Reserves instead of an Active Duty Member. The Health Professions Scholarship Program requires that you serve the same amount of time as their scholarship pays.
