2020 recipients:

Virginia Alvarado Jones,
University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine

Virginia is a first-generation Salvadoran-American pursuing a career in dermatology. Her clinical and research interests include ethnic skin conditions, pigmentary disorders, and autoimmune dermatoses. She has been active in efforts to reduce health disparities in Chicago through collaborations with local federally qualified health centers. Her efforts include quality improvement projects aimed at helping vulnerable populations receive appropriate dermatologic screening and care and improving health communication.

Additionally, she dedicates her time to mentorship and peer education of underrepresented minority high school, undergraduate, and medical students. She is active in community service through student-run health clinics that serve minority Chicago communities and through advocacy roles in organizations such as the Medical Organization for Latino Advancement and the Skin of Color Society.

Ryan Chiu,
University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine

Ryan was born into a diverse, working-class community in Chicago to immigrant parents. Ryan is pursuing neurosurgery and breakthroughs in brain-computer interfaces and other neurological implants. He co-founded NeurosurgeryImplants.com, a portal informing patients and providers of adverse interactions of aneurysm clips, spinal instrumentation, and other implants with metal detectors and other machines.

Ryan is passionate about ensuring that medical breakthroughs are equitably accessible to all patients. He remains active in organized medicine through the AMA, having served as Vice-Chair of the Illinois State Medical Society’s Medical Student Section, and specialty organizations such as the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

Make sure to join us on Thursday, Feb. 11 from Noon-1PM CST on Teams to meet Ryan and Virginia and hear about the impact you have had on their lives through the AMA Employee-funded Scholarship.

From Feb. 8 – Feb. 12, all donations made to the AMA Employee-funded Scholarship are matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $5,000! This means that when you donate:

$25, $50 is donated;

$50, $100 is donated;

$75, $150 is donated;

$100, $200 is donated!

Please use the donation form below to support more medical students attending school in AMA office communities through the AMA Employee-funded Scholarship. If you would like to make your donation in honor, memory, or support of an individual please indicate as such and the Foundation will work with you to send them a letter informing them of your generosity.

All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.