Washington Academy of Family Physicians Foundation Endowed Scholarship

EST.2008

The Washington Academy of Family Physicians (WAFP) is the Washington chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and is currently the largest medical specialty organization in Washington. Members include physicians who specialize in family medicine, residents in family medicine training programs, and medical students interested in the specialty.

The Academy, and its philanthropic arm, the Washington Academy of Family Physicians Foundation, have long taken a philanthropic interest in the School of Medicine. They have made major contributions to funds in the Department of Family Medicine, among them the Theodore J. Phillips Endowed Professorship in Family Medicine.

In 2004, the Foundation and its members decided to make a commitment to scholarship support for medical students at the School of Medicine. While the School has a relatively low tuition because of its state affiliation, many students still cannot afford to attend. And, while tuition and living expenses continue to increase, the level of scholarship funds required to support students has not kept pace, nor has it kept pace with the financial aid packages offered by other schools.

Realizing that debt may discourage medical students from choosing careers in family medicine and discourage them from choosing to practice in areas of need, the Washington Academy of Family Physicians, its members, and its foundation have decided to create a scholarship that will benefit students interested in the field of family medicine. In doing so, they are taking advantage of the matching funds offered by the University’s Matching Gift Initiative (MGI).

Per the request of the foundation, this scholarship will be limited to students in their fourth year of medical school. The Washington Academy of Family Physicians Foundation Endowed Scholarship will serve as a recruitment tool for family medicine practice by promoting an interest in the field during the crucial fourth year, when students are making their career choice. The donors hope that this scholarship will give students greater flexibility to practice in family medicine.