Scholarships

There are three major sources of scholarships. The first is managed by financial aid and is based exclusively on need. General information regarding need based scholarships can be found at the Universtiy of Colorado Denver Financial Aid site.

The second source of scholarships, made available through the School of Medicine, may also be based on need.

The third source of scholarships comes from various community groups.

General Scholarships

The UC Denver School of Medicine Scholarship Program exists to honor students with outstanding promise and to help students pay for medical school. There are a number of programs to help meet the needs of the medical students, including various general and specific scholarships.

Scholarships form the basis for declaring to our community the values, characteristics, and ideals that we want in our medical students and graduating physicians. Scholarships will be used to recruit and reward students who exemplify these values and characteristics.

All UC Denver School of Medicine Scholarships consider financial need in final awards.

Service-Commitment Scholarship Programs

Distinguished Student Scholarship Program - Available for Students entering the Class of 2012

Distinguished Student Scholarships will be awarded to incoming (accepted) medical students that demonstrate a commitment to a specific ideal, value, or characteristic valued by the School of Medicine. These scholarships are only awarded to a select group of students following a rigorous review process by the Distinguished Scholarship Committee. These scholarships are described below with specific scholarship requirements. Distinguished Scholarship winners serve as ambassadors for the Medical School.

There are currently 6 Distinguished Student Scholarships;

Florence Sabin Scholarship for Commitment to Community Health
Justina Ford Scholarship for Commitment to the Underserved.
National Western Stock Show Foundation Scholarship for Rural Health
COPIC Scholarship for Diversity
Dean’s Scholarship for Diversity
Hermosa Creek Rural Scholarship

These scholarships are up to $10,000 per year and are renewable for 4 years. Each honors and promotes a specific characteristic, ideal, or value.

Some may include a paid 6-8 week summer work-study internship between Phase I and II of medical school. Applicants will be chosen based on their medical school application and one page Scholarship specific essay.

Florence Sabin Scholarship for Commitment to Community Health

This scholarship honors the famous Colorado public health pioneer Florence Sabin. In 1946, Colorado Governor John Vivian asked her to head the state health committee. Dr. Sabin found that Colorado was one of America’s sickest states. She toured all 63 Colorado counties and presented eight health reform bills to the State Legislature. After statewide success, Dr. Sabin was appointed Denver’s Manager of Health and Charities. She began a program that cut the tuberculosis rate in half and launched numerous important programs to teach and support community health.

Information and Requirements:

$10,000 per year, renewable for 4 years
The Florence Sabin Scholar serves as an Ambassador for the School of Medicine
Send a one-page essay providing information about your commitment to community health, experiences in community health, and future plans related to community health.

Justina Ford Scholarship for Commitment to the Underserved

Dr. Justina Ford graduated from Hering Medical College in Chicago in 1899. Dr. Ford was the first African American woman physician in Colorado and faced many obstacles in her professional career. Dr. Ford served the disadvantaged and under-privileged of all races. She delivered more than 7,000 babies, many at homes throughout the Five-Points region of Denver. Dr Ford was eventually allowed to practice at Denver General Hospital and was admitted to the Colorado Medical Society in 1950.

Information and Requirements:

$10,000 per year, renewable for 4 years
The Ford Scholar serves as an Ambassador for the School of Medicine
Send a one-page essay providing information about your commitment to the underserved, your experiences in working with underserved populations, and your future plans related to care of the underserved.

National Western Stock Show Scholarship for Rural Health

The National Western Stock Show Foundation provides a scholarship to a first-year medical student committed to rural primary care practice. The NWSS Scholarship is for a student from a rural community in Colorado or Wyoming with plans to practice primary care in a rural community in Colorado or Wyoming. If the NWSS Scholar does not practice primary care for 4 years in a rural community of Colorado or Wyoming he/she must repay a proportional share of the scholarship award.

Information and Requirements:

$6,000 per year, renewable for 4 years
The National Western Stock Show Scholar serves as an Ambassador for the School of Medicine and must attend various National Western Stock Show activities during the year.
Send a one-page essay providing information about your rural experience and future rural plans. Applicants should include the name of their rural community and the name and town of their high school. Applicants should discuss why they plan to return to a rural community.

COPIC Scholarship for Diversity

The COPIC Scholarship for Diversity was established to honor those students who contribute to the educational benefits derived from a diverse student body. COPIC provides medical professional liability insurance, insurance brokerage and financial services, and office site visits and medical record reviews. COPIC’s purpose is to allow the health care community the opportunity to devote the greatest possible proportion of its resources to patient care. The COPIC Diversity Scholarship provides up to $10,000 per year, renewable for up to 4 years. Applicants should have a well-rounded foundation in academic excellence, scholarly achievement, and community service.

Information and Requirements:

up to $10,000 per year, renewable for 4 years
The COPIC Scholar serves as an Ambassador for the School of Medicine.
Send a one-page essay providing information about your ability to contribute to the educational benefits derived from a diverse student body. The scholarship committee works closely with COPIC to select this scholar.

Hermosa Creek Scholarship in Rural Medicine

The Hermosa Creek Scholarship in rural Medicine is awarded to a first-year medical student com-mitted to rural primary care practice who is accepted into the Rural Track at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. If the Hermosa Creek Scholar does not practice primary care for 4 years on the Western Slope, he/she must repay a proportional share of the scholarship award.

Information and Requirements:

$6,000 per year, renewable for 4 years
Applicants must have graduated high school from a rural community in Colorado or Wyoming and agree to practice on the Western Slope of Colorado.
The Hermosa Creek Rural Scholar serves as an Ambassador for the School of Medicine.
Send a one page essay providing information about your rural experiences and future plans. The applicant should include the name of their rural community and high school. Applicants should discuss their plans to return to practice primary care in a rural community.

Dean’s Scholarship for Diversity

The Dean’s Diversity Scholarships were established to honor contributions to the educational benefits derived from a diverse student body.

Information and Requirements:

Up to $10,000 per year
Applicants must have well-rounded foundation in academic excellence, scholarly achievement, and community service
The Dean’s Diversity Scholar serves as an Ambassador for the School of Medicine.
Send a one-page essay describing your ability to contribute to the educational benefits derived from a diverse student body

Additional Scholarships

These scholarships are provided by various community groups.

Colorado Medical Society (CMS) Student Scholarship

The Colorado Medical Society has one scholarship available for an entering student. The society is interested in supporting students who have a background or experience in rural areas and students with a background or experience in urban under-served areas.

Pueblo Hispanic Foundation

Latin American Education Foundation

UPI Scholarship for Graduating Seniors