“My scholarship directly impacted me and substantially lessened my existing financial burden. In turn, this has allowed me to focus on completing my medical school education. Thank you so much for the wonderful honor.”  –Gabrielle Milner, 2023 AMA Foundation scholarship recipient

The AMA Foundation is grateful for the AMA employees who have come together year after year to support medical student scholarships. For nearly a decade, the foundation’s Give From the Heart Week has continued to celebrate staff for their generosity and the medical students they have championed through AMA employee-funded scholarships.

Awarded through the AMA Foundation Physicians of Tomorrow Program, scholarship aid not only helps alleviate medical school tuition and fees, but it is also a powerful tool in growing and empowering diverse generations of physician leaders. During Give From the Heart Week 2024, the foundation invites you to learn about these students and hear from them directly on our YouTube channel.

The foundation expresses its sincere gratitude to AMA employee donors for furthering our mission of bringing together physicians and communities to improve the nation’s health. Visit our Physicians of Tomorrow page to learn more about the program and how you can support medical student scholarships.

Meet the Scholarship Recipients

Gabrielle Milner, John Hopkins University School of Medicine

Gabrielle Milner is a fourth-year student at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (JHUSOM) and graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College. At JHUSOM, Milner took a leading role in spearheading the launch of a peer health navigation program to provide culturally responsive support to marginalized graduate student communities. She also sought to help increase diversity in the health care workforce and served as co-president of a mentoring initiative for underrepresented pre-medical students.

What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine?
Growing up in the Bronx—recognized as the least healthy county in New York State—shaped my interest in serving vulnerable populations. The high rates of chronic illnesses and the structural inequities that I observed in certain communities were alarming. In addition, I learned of some of the problems my father and grandmother faced after immigrating to the U.S. Immigrants and refugees endure many obstacles to accessing health care. This also contributed to my interest in caring for marginalized groups.

How do you hope to impact your patients and the communities you serve?
I plan to impact my patients by providing patient-centered care that incorporates listening to their concerns and identifying social factors and obstacles they encounter that jeopardize their health. I intend to help meet the needs of marginalized communities through education and community engagement, developing resources and health interventions that are responsive to their needs and building partnerships with local and faith-based organizations on strategies to combat health disparities. Due to entrenched policies that have led to health inequities in vulnerable populations, I also plan to be involved in legislative advocacy to combat existing structural inequalities and racial injustice.

Why is scholarship aid important?
Scholarship aid is important to medical students because it allows them to concentrate on their education and engage in extracurricular experiences without being burdened by the stress of student loan debt. Additionally, I also believe that the granting of scholarship aid serves as a springboard, as it can motivate and inspire those who have benefitted from the kindness of others to pay it forward and later become scholarship donors and support.

Hear a special message from Gabrielle on our YouTube channel!

Nicholas Streltzov, Warren Alpbert Medical School of Brown University

Nicholas Streltzov is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, where he studied psychology, philosophy and dance as an undergraduate student. He went on to conduct research in both psychiatry and neurology while studying neuroscience at Dartmouth College before completing a premedical post-bachelor program at the University of Vermont. Nicholas is currently completing his final year of medical school at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. His academic interests include population health and health justice and the role of medical imaging in primary care and health system reform.

What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine?
I had a long and circuitous route to discovering my love for medicine, but at all turns, I have been guided by a desire to use my position to improve the well-being of others at the individual and the population level. No field offers opportunities to serve others along with rich intellectual engagement like a career in medicine, and I continued to be inspired by the incredible community of peers and mentors who have chosen this field.

How do you hope to impact your patients and the communities you serve?
My goal both in training and eventually in practice is to leverage the privilege afforded to me in service of the health of my community and to help improve the lives and material conditions of marginalized populations.

Why is scholarship aid important to medical students?
The cost of medical education makes accessibility difficult for brilliant and dedicated students from lower-income families and under-resourced communities. Scholarship aid can help level the playing field by helping students afford rising expenses.

Hear a special message from Nicholas on our YouTube channel!