Visting Student Scholarship

The UC San Diego (UCSD) Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM) medical student program is excited to offer two Visiting Medical Student Externship Scholarships this year. 

1. EDI/JEDI Medical Student Scholarship: For visiting medical students from backgrounds and ethnicities historically underrepresented in medicine and/or dedicated to serving those communities during and after residency.
2. Rural Underserved Visiting Medical Student Scholarship: For those students committed to working in rural, underserved emergency departments in California after residency. 

Our department is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all our recruitment and education efforts, and we believe that when our team reflects the diversity of our surrounding communities, it enhances our ability to provide exceptional care, particularly in medically underserved clinical settings.  

This scholarship is designed to help students who will apply to Emergency Medicine (EM) for residency to complete an EM sub-internship at UCSD.  The scholarship supports students by defraying the costs of travel, education, and housing, and providing opportunities for mentoring and career development.

In addition to all the learning opportunities that our EMED 420 MS4 clerkship offers, scholarship recipients will also receive:

• $1500 to reimburse travel, educational and visiting student application costs (funds will be provided after successful completion of the clerkship; receipts must be submitted for reimbursement).
• Priority in scheduling a rotation via the AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunity (VSLO).
• Several shifts at our rural critical access affiliate site El Centro Regional Medical Center (includes free nightly housing, food, parking while there).
• Faculty and resident advisors to explore areas of interest and our program culture.
• The ability to attend seminars and lectures offered by the UCSD Office of Diversity and Community Partnerships and the UCSD Cross Cultural Center.
• A letter of recommendation (eSLOE) highlighting this competitive scholarship.

Eligibility: 

To qualify for this scholarship, you must intend to pursue a residency in Emergency Medicine. All students must be in good academic standing, have passed USMLE step 1, and prior to the start of the UCSD EMED 420 rotation, have successfully completed core clerkships in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Ob/Gyn, and Surgery.  You will also need to apply to our clerkship through the AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunity (VSLO) Online Application, but do not need to do so before submitting your scholarship application. 

Selection Criteria:

• Interest in pursuing a career serving rural, underserved and/or underrepresented populations.
• Demonstrated interest in promoting diversity and inclusion.
• Established history of leadership and community service. Good standing in medical school.

To Apply:

Please send an email to Beckett Kirk at bhkirk@health.ucsd.edu by April 15, 2024 consisting of:

1. A personal statement including how you qualify based on the criteria listed (1-page maximum)
2. A faculty Letter of Recommendation, attesting to the above selection criteria.
3. Name, current Medical school enrolled in and personal contact information.

Scholarship recipients will be notified by May 1, 2024. 

For more information, please visit the UCSD's Visiting Student webpage.

2024-2025 application form: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1up1_gz7g7eSaWLIeO6FBgS1Zuc3nXEjbywXCVqxBt4/edit?usp=sharing