To help celebrate 35 years of tuition scholarships, the Foundation created two new scholarships to support diversity in Osteopathic Medical Students. We are proud and honored to present this first scholarship to Student Doctor Remy Arnot.

You can get information on our scholarship to support a student from a historically underrepresented group in medicine {LINK HERE}.

The Foundation supports that “osteopathic medicine is modern medicine for the body, mind, and spirit” and that the LGBTQ+ community will benefit from physicians that bring this approach to their patient’s healthcare.

For the academic year, the Foundation presented ten scholarships for $10,000 each. You can learn more using {THIS LINK}.

Applicants for our LGBTQ+ diversity scholarship must first meet the basic criteria for all our scholarships:

• Show a strong commitment to practicing medicine in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington State.
• Articulate an understanding of the principles and practices of osteopathic medicine in modern patient care.
• Demonstrate their past and future commitment to leadership and service beyond the practice of medicine.

Students who qualify and are interested in a diversity scholarship are then asked to answer one additional essay question and may submit one additional letter of reference.

“The LGBTQ+ community is directly under attack as we speak. Legislative action throughout our country threatens the rights of LGBTQ+ patients, and my ability to provide appropriate and life-saving treatment. Florida’s “Don’t say gay bill,” and recent comparison of providing gender affirming to as child abuse are not new ideas. The LGBTQ+ community faced discrimination and injustice since its dawn; this is something I have personally experienced as a lesbian cis woman. As an osteopathic physician, I will not stand for these challenges in delivering appropriate quality care to my patients. My commitment to my patients extends beyond physical wellness, to the spiritual and mental level—”the trilogy” which A.T Stills described at the dawn of osteopathy. This is fundamental to me. Therefore, my care will include addressing gender and sexuality in my patients. A “don’t say gay bill” won’t stop me. When I ask a queer presenting patient what their preferred pronouns are, and they visibly relax, I am creating a safe space for that individual. True healing requires safety and trust; that is my aim for my relationship with my patients. True healing and good medicine require staying up to date. This means re-writing curriculum, employing evidence-based medicine, and constantly reflecting on what has been done well and what could be done better. The American Medical Student Association (AMSA) has provided excellent examples of effective advocacy in patient-based medicine and curriculum reform. As an AMSA Fellow, I have been part of a national effort to analyze and provide solutions for these divisive legislative proposals. This has involved various consults with the White House about the Women’s Health Protection Act and the Texas abortion legislation. This work has fueled my commitment to advocacy, especially for female identifying populations and the LGBTQ+ community. With my medical school’s administration, I help create curriculum for a resident osteopathic journal club. As I sift and search for compelling articles, I keep in mind the importance of the role of evolving curriculum. This is how I currently am working to improve healthcare for the LGBTQ+ community. I enjoy these roles thoroughly and plan on continue involvement through the foreseeable future.“