Partners in Impact: AMA Foundation and AMA Alliance Celebrate Three Scholarship Recipients
For over a decade, the AMA Alliance and the AMA Foundation have proudly partnered to support the next generation of medical leaders through the Grassroots Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarship. Funded by generous AMA Alliance members, it has awarded a total of $190,000 to 19 medical students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing women's and children's health through volunteer service, research initiatives, and community engagement.
This year, three outstanding recipients were selected for their dedication to compassionate care, community engagement, and leadership.
Immanuelle Azebe-Osime | Drexel University College of Medicine
Immanuelle Azebe-Osime
Immanuelle "Ellie" Azebe-Osime is a fourth-year medical student at Drexel University College of Medicine and a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, pursuing a career in obstetrics and gynecology with a particular interest in optimal health and academic medicine. Her research addresses disparities in women's health, including maternal morbidity and mortality, uterine fibroids, and outcomes associated with advanced maternal age. Originally from Nigeria, she aspires to become a clinician-scientist who advances equitable maternal health care through patient care, research, mentorship, and advocacy.
“The loss of a family member at an early age inspired me to pursue medicine. Even though I was too young to fully understand it at the time, growing up with that absence gave me an early awareness of how fragile life is and how much families need support, not just treatment, during those moments. That understanding has stayed with me and drives me to be a doctor who provides comfort and answers to patients and their families during tough times.”
Kavya Anjur | University of Illinois College of Medicine
Kavya Anjur
Kavya Anjur is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, where she conducted research on health disparities. She has held leadership roles in several student organizations and, in 2025, was selected as student president and state delegate to the American Academy of Family Physicians National Congress through the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians. As a National Schweitzer Fellow, Anjur leads a community service project with local domestic violence shelters and volunteers with a local food pantry and student-run free clinic.
“As a future family medicine physician, I will be a strong patient advocate and community leader to better educate and support vulnerable populations. I strongly believe in the social responsibility of physicians, and I am very passionate about meaningfully improving health outcomes for underserved communities through longitudinal community education.”
Makayla Sheffield | East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine
Makayla Sheffield
Makayla Sheffield is a fourth-year MD/MPH candidate at East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine, where she is part of the Rural Primary Care Track and a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. A Yale University graduate, Sheffield is committed to practicing primary care in underserved and rural communities. She volunteers with women's health organizations and leads local initiatives, including a community garden project that promotes access to nutrition and wellness.
“I hope to impact my patients by building relationships grounded in trust, compassion, and consistency. I want them to feel known as people, not just as problems to be solved, and to leave visits with a better understanding of their health and a clear path forward. In the communities I serve, I hope to improve access to thoughtful, practical care and to be an advocate for healthier families over time.”
To learn more about the AMA Alliance Grassroots Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarship and other opportunities to support medical students, visit the Physicians of Tomorrow page.