American Women’s Hospital Services

Overseas Travel Grants

The AWHS Overseas Assistance Grant program provides travel grants for medical students and residents working in clinics around the world.  Students have traveled to a number of countries ranging from Uganda, Peru, India, Nepal, South Africa.

Of a doctor in a rural healthcare center in India, one student wrote, “She is one of those rare and inspiring mentors who become like a voice in a person’s conscience for the rest of their days and I know that my time with her will affect the way that I practice medicine and view healthcare for the rest of my career.”

Read more about some of the remarkable experiences these dedicated young physicians-in-training have had:

Application Process

The AWHS Overseas Assistance Grant provides assistance with transportation costs up to $1,000 connected with pursuing medical studies in an off-campus setting where the medically neglected will benefit. The grants are awarded to national full AMWA student members who have completed their pre-clinical years in an accredited U.S. medical or osteopathic medical school or to full AMWA resident members. Applicants must spend a minimum of four weeks and no longer than one year in a sponsored program which will serve the needs of the medically under-served.

For more information contact AWHS@amwa-doc.org. Please be sure to read application guidelines to be sure that your project aligns with our mission to improve the health of women and children globally.

Overseas Assistance Grant — Application   Overseas Assistant Grant — Guidelines

Application Dates

Deadline: January 5
Decision by: February 15
Deadline: May 5
Decision by: June 15
Deadline: September 5
Decision by: October 15

Grant Application Guidelines

American Women’s Hospitals Service Overseas Travel Grant Guidelines

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

  • Completed Overseas Travel Grant Application
  • Letter from Dean’s Office confirming good standing (as applicable)
  • Letter of recommendation from a faculty member
  • Description of program prepared by sponsor or, if no sponsor, by your school or another school accepting responsibility.
  • Evidence of school approval for academic credit or acceptance of responsibility if no sponsor
  • Travel Budget

Applicants will also be asked to pay a one-time, nonrefundable $10 processing fee.

PARAMETERS:

  • A follow up photo essay/video/educational article that can be used as an educational piece for newsletter submission in order to help educate others on working in a medically underserved area.
  • Final expense report with airfare receipts.

One recent recipient of the Overseas Assistance Grant awarded by the American Women’s Hospitals Service wrote, “I am anticipating the realization of a dream I have had for a long time practicing medicine in an underserved and culturally rich part of the world.”

To help make dreams like this a reality, AWHS provides assistance with travel expenses up to $1,000, connected with pursuing medical studies in an off-campus setting where the medically neglected will benefit. The grants are awarded to national AMWA members completing their second, third, or fourth year of an accredited four-year U.S. medical or osteopathic medical school or a resident who will be spending a minimum of four weeks and no longer than one year in a sponsored program which will serve the needs of the medically underserved.  The program must be sponsored by your school, another school, or an outside agency or, if there is no sponsor, it must be a program for which your school takes responsibility and provides academic credit.

Participation in the AWHS committee for one year following travel and presentation of your project at an AMWA annual conference is highly encouraged and appreciated!

  • Overseas Assistance Grant provides airfare expenses up to $1,000
  • Experience will benefit the underserved population as well as the student/resident
  • Applicant will be able to use this experience to educate others about medical work abroad, in resource limited settings, or with underserved populations
  • Grantee will be spending no less than four weeks nor more than one year at the site
  • Applicant must be a full National Student or Resident Member of AMWA and active involvement is highly encouraged.
  • Students attending a U.S. accredited medical or osteopathic medical school and completing their second, third or fourth year or a Resident may apply for the grant
  • Grant is a one-time, non-renewable grant
  • Program must be sponsored by your medical school, another medical school, or an outside agency and for which your school or another medical school or outside agency takes responsibility and provides academic credit

SELECTION PROCESS:

  • A Reviewing Body of members of the AWHS Committee will review the applications.
  • Grading criteria includes: motivation for applying, how the grant will help the applicant’s advancement of knowledge, strength of letters of recommendation, the projected impact of proposed project on community, focus of project on serving women and children, how the experience can be used to educate students once completed, and level involvement with AMWA.
  • A majority of the grant reviewing body must approve of the application.