Scholarship Information
OCOM Research and Scholarship Foundation Mission Statement
The Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine (OCOM) was established to support the need to train diverse, caring, and competent osteopathic physicians who will have an impact on the Central Florida community, our nation, and our global community. We believe that research and scholarship are essential to the advancement of knowledge and understanding, and we are committed to supporting the work of researchers and scholars who will make a difference in the world. The OCOM Research and Scholarship Foundation program is critically important to provide deserving medical students with the financial assistance to enable their medical education. Building a strong, supportive OCOM Research and Scholarship Foundation program in partnership with generous philanthropic benefactors will provide opportunities for students to advance evidence-based medicine to enhance and improve patient care, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students, allowing them to excel and transform the future of healthcare.
Outside Scholarships
The OCOM Office of Financial Aid encourages students to seek additional sources of funding. All awards and scholarships offered to students (including outside scholarships, research assistantships or fellowships, and teaching assistantships or fellowships) must be reported to the Office of Financial Aid. Adjustments to the federal award package may be required.
Scholarship Search Websites
Graduate School Scholarships | Sallie Mae - This website will connect students to $30 Billion in resources, is free to use, and has many features that help find scholarships easily.
Fastweb allows students to complete personalized searches for scholarships. Users must create login credentials to access scholarship information.
FinAid allows students to search for scholarships and provides additional information on other sources of financial aid, such as loans.
Collegescholarships allows students to search for scholarships by subject, degree level, location, and minority status or student type. Users do not need to create login credentials to access information.
Additional Scholarships
National Medical Fellowships
Need-based scholarships awarded through National Medical Fellowships are offered primarily to first- and second-year medical students. Merit-based awards are offered primarily to third- and fourth-year medical students.
NMF Emergency Scholarship
In addition to all their scholarship opportunities, NMF also offers Emergency Scholarships for students. This need-based scholarship is meant for M3 and M4 underrepresented minority medical school students whose continuation in medical school is severely threatened due to a financial crisis. Typically, students apply for this assistance when circumstances beyond their control have created a financial hardship that makes it difficult to continue in medical school. The emergency must be sudden, unexpected, and unbudgeted.
Japanese Medical Society of America
The Japanese Medical Society of America (JMSA) awards scholarships to students who demonstrate academic excellence and show a strong interest in JMSA and its goals. Members of JMSA consist of medical professionals as well as non-medical professionals concerned with medical issues.
JJB Law Offices - Healthcare Professional Scholarship
The Law Offices of Joseph J. Bogdan, LLC, is dedicated to healthcare professionals in defense of their licenses and certifications. Their Healthcare Scholarship supports students pursuing a career in healthcare that requires professional licensure. The application is open to those students of medicine, pharmacy and nursing. Applicants must meet eligibility criteria: be at least 18 years of age, be a U.S. citizen, and have a 3.5 cumulative GPA.
National Hispanic Health Foundation
Supports the National Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship Program - this scholarship program is focused on Hispanic students who are committed to careers in health care; such as, nursing, dentistry, public health, health management and policy analysis, and allied health.
Department of Veterans Affairs Health Profession Scholarship
The Health Professional Scholarship Program (HPSP) provides financial assistance to students receiving education or training in a direct or indirect health-care services discipline; and assists in providing an adequate supply of such personnel for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). HPSP helps the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) meet its need for qualified health care professionals for which recruitment or retention is difficult.
American Medical Association
The American Medical Association (AMA) offers research grants, need-based scholarships, and merit-based scholarships to medical students.
American Medical Women’s Association
The American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) has multiple scholarship opportunities for Student Members.
Good Rx Helps
Good Rx Helps is the philanthropic arm of Good Rx that seeks to address health inequities across all states in medicine, nursing and pharmacy. This scholarship aims to support underrepresent groups in healthcare by reducing financial barriers to education. They offer a $5,000 scholarship to black medical students in either a MD or DO program or PA program. Look for this scholarship to open in June or sign up to be notified when the application cycle is open.
National Medical Fellowships
The primary goal of NMF is to achieve equity of opportunity in medicine and equity of access to quality healthcare for all groups in American society by increasing the number of minority physicians and changing the face of medicine to better reflect and serve our diverse nation. NMF provides multiple scholarship opportunities to eligible medical students.
Indian Health Services Health Professions Scholarship
The Health Professions scholarship provides financial aid covering tuition, required fees and other educational and living expenses for qualified American Indian and Alaska Native students (members of federally recognized Tribes only) applying to, accepted by or enrolled in a health profession program. Students incur a service obligation upon acceptance of funding from this program.
Uniformed Services Health Professions Scholarship Program
The Uniformed Services Health Professions Scholarship Program (Air Force, Army, and Navy) awards scholarships on a competitive basis and provides financial assistance to medical students in exchange for active duty service in the Armed Forces. For each year of participation, the Armed Forces require 1 year of active duty; the minimum service obligation is 3 years. The scholarship pays for tuition and fees, a taxable monthly stipend, and 45 days of active duty pay and allowances, and covers expenses including books and instruments. Scholarships are competitive, and each service has its own selection board.
American Osteopathic Foundation
The AOF offers a variety of grant, scholarship, and award opportunities to osteopathic medical students, residents, physicians, researchers, and osteopathic centers/programs. Through these opportunities, the AOF is able to recognize some of the exceptional individuals within the osteopathic profession who are making a difference.
Arnstein Minority Student Scholarship Program
This AACOM scholarship is designed to recognize underrepresented minority students in their 1st, 2nd or 3rd year of osteopathic medical school. Scholarship cycle is generally open from January to March for the following school year.
SOMA Foundation
The SOMA Foundation shall provide financial, structural, and emotional support for programs and benefits that will contribute to the welfare, education, and promotion of osteopathic medical students. Financial and social benefits will be available to minimize a student’s financial debt, as well as develop strong peer support. Multiple scholarships are available through the SOMA Foundation.
Women in Medicine (WIM) LGBT Leadership Scholarship
Women in Medicine (WIM) will present two, $5,000 LGBT Leadership Scholarships for female medical students enrolled in allopathic or osteopathic medical schools in the United States or Canada. For more information, contact wim.doctors@gmail.com or visit the WIM website.
Service-Based Scholarship Programs
Armed Forces Health Profession Scholarship: Air Force
The Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program provides contracts for financial assistance to medical students in exchange for active duty service in participating military branches. Eligible participants may receive a scholarship to cover tuition, fees, and other related education expenses as well as a monthly stipend. Typically, for each year of participation in the AFHPSP, students must serve one year in the appropriate branch of the Armed Forces. Participation in a military residency program does not count toward discharge of the service obligations, although it does count toward promotion and retirement service. For more information, please contact a service branch representative in your area.
Armed Forces Health Profession Scholarship: Army
The Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program provides contracts for financial assistance to medical students in exchange for active duty service in participating military branches. Eligible participants may receive a scholarship to cover tuition, fees, and other related education expenses as well as a monthly stipend. Typically, for each year of participation in the AFHPSP, students must serve one year in the appropriate branch of the Armed Forces. Participation in a military residency program does not count toward discharge of the service obligations, although it does count toward promotion and retirement service. For more information, please contact a service branch representative in your area.
Armed Forces Health Profession Scholarship: Navy
The Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program provides contracts for financial assistance to medical students in exchange for active duty service in participating military branches. Eligible participants may receive a scholarship to cover tuition, fees, and other related education expenses as well as a monthly stipend. Typically, for each year of participation in the AFHPSP, students must serve one year in the appropriate branch of the Armed Forces. Participation in a military residency program does not count toward discharge of the service obligations, although it does count toward promotion and retirement service. For more information, please contact a service branch representative in your area.
Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship
The primary goal of NHHS is to improve the health of Native Hawaiians by providing scholarships to Native Hawaiians pursuing certain health disciplines. This scholarship provides funds to cover tuition and other school costs as well as a monthly stipend. A year’s service/employment in an underserved area of Hawaii for each year of scholarship received is required after graduation. It is important to note that this award is subject to federal taxes.