Medical School Scholarships 2026 | AMA Foundation Physicians of Tomorrow Applications Now Open
About the Scholarship Program
The Physicians of Tomorrow program is one of the AMA Foundation’s flagship initiatives, providing critical medical student scholarships to support the next generation of physician leaders. Each year, the program awards $10,000 tuition assistance scholarships to exceptional medical students entering their final year of training.
With more than 15 scholarship categories—including awards for students underrepresented in medicine and students pursuing specialty areas or leadership—the program recognizes academic excellence, personal resilience, and a deep commitment to service. Since its inception, the AMA Foundation has awarded more than $61 million in medical school scholarships, reducing financial burdens, honoring future leaders, and helping ensure that the path to becoming a physician is accessible, equitable, and grounded in excellence.
Applications for the 2026 cycle close on February 9, 2026. Apply now at amafoundation.org/applications
Scholarship Categories
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Requirements:
Applicants must be entering their final year of medical school.
Applicants must be permanent residents or citizens of the U.S. or have DACA status.
If you have additional questions, please email Program Manager Allison Wesel (she/her) at allison.wesel@ama-assn.org.
General scholarships are made possible in part by:
The Barney & Kelda Maynard Fund
The Dr. and Mrs. J. James & Charli Rohack Fund
The Lazarus Family Fund
The Oklahoma Honor Fund
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Requirements:
Applicants must be entering their final year of medical school.
Applicants must be permanent residents or citizens of the U.S. or have DACA status.
Made possible in part by:
The Harold & Mary Marsh Fund
The Joe Heyman, MD Fund
The Paul O’Leary, MD Memorial Fund
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Requirements:
Applicants must have an interest in and commitment to women’s and/or children’s health issues.
Selection is based on volunteer activities and/or research initiatives.
Made possible by:
The generous donors to the AMA Alliance Grassroots Honor Fund
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Requirements:
Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to addressing health disparities and promoting health equity in marginalized and minoritized communities.
Made possible by:
The Vandenberg Health Equity Fund
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Requirements:
Applicants must be of Eastern European descent
Preference will be given to applicants who are one or more of the following (not required to apply):
Applicant is a first-generation student.
Applicant is interested in pursuing private practice
Made possible by:
The Patricia L. Austin Family Fund
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Requirements:
Applicants must be African American/Black with an interested in cardiology.
One of the required letters of recommendation should reference an interested in cardiology.
Note: $5,000 scholarship
Made possible by:
The Dr. Richard Allen Williams and Genita Evangelista Johnson/Association of Black Cardiologists Fund
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Requirements:
Applicants must be a resident of New Jersey and be attending medical school in New Jersey.
Made possible by:
The Medical Society of New Jersey
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Requirements:
Applicants must be enrolled at an accredited California-based Medical School with an interest in one or more of the following:
Advocacy
Pursuing a career in anesthesiology, critical care or surgery
Pursuing a rural practice career
Made possible by:
The H. Hugh Vincent, MD Family Fund
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Requirements:
Applicants must demonstrate a strong commitment to medicine, humanitarian public service and compassionate patient care.
Made possible by:
Susan D. Diskin, PhD
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Requirements:
Applicants must be a permanent residents of Illinois who are involved in organized medicine and have expressed plans of practicing in Illinois after completing residency.
Made possible by:
The generous donors to the Illinois Honor Fund
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Requirements:
Applicants must currently attend medical school in the State of Oklahoma.
Made possible by:
The Estate of Mary Frances Alexander in memory of her parents
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Requirements:
Applicants must be a resident of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota or Wisconsin.
Applicants must demonstrate tenacity nd/or come from humble beginnings.
Preference will be given to applicants who intend to practice in one of the above states and/or practice in a rural community.
Made possible by:
The North Central Medical Conference/Ken Viste, MD, Honor Fund
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Recipients must demonstrate an interest in leadership in public health and advocacy. *This should be addressed in the personal statement.
Strong preference for students from the state of California.
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Participation in, or creation of, a program in bioethics in medicine.
OR
Semiprofessional or professional participation in the humanities: art, music, theater, literature, dance
Opportunity to do a program/presentation for VIP level donors
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Requirements:
Applicants must currently attend a medical school in the State of New York.
Applicants must be actively involved in organized medicine.
Applicants must have expressed plans to practice in the State of New York.
Made possible by:
The generous donors to the MSSNY/Dr. Duane and Joyce Cady Honor Fund
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Requirements:
Applicants must attend medical school in the State of Ohio.
Applicants be actively involved in or willing to become actively involved in organized medicine.
Made possible by:
The generous donors to the Ohio Honor Fund
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Requirements:
To be considered for the sleep medicine scholarship, applicants must demonstrate an interest in pursuing sleep medicine as a sub-specialty in internal medicine, psychiatry, pediatrics, neurology, etc., as part of their application process and personal statement.
Made possible by:
How to Apply
The 2026 Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarships offer meaningful financial support for medical students entering their final year of training. If you meet the eligibility criteria, now is the time to apply and take a step toward reducing your educational debt while advancing your future in medicine.
Submit your application at amafoundation.org/applications before February 9, 2026.