Scholars Program

Thank you!

The GMHF is very grateful to the donors of the Scholars Fund for your tremendous support of this program. Due to the generosity of AAGP members and other donors, we exceeded our 2012 goal!  Plans for 2013 are already underway, so consider making your contribution now for the 2013 program. Contribute online.  

                 

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Background

Access to quality mental health care for our nation’s elderly is at serious risk. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) noted in its April 2008 report, “the current workforce is not large enough to meet older patients’ needs, and the scarcity of workers specializing in the care of older adults is even more pronounced.”

The Geriatric Mental Health Foundation’s Scholars Fund was developed to expose medical students and young physicians to the rewarding field of geriatric psychiatry in an effort to increase the number of medical professionals expertly trained to care for the growing older population.

The Scholars Fund will provide for the mentorship and educational development of medical students and psychiatry residents through multiple opportunities to participate in the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP). It is the goal of this program to encourage residents and medical students to pursue specialized training in geriatrics. Through past efforts AAGP has demonstrated that facilitating interactions in a structured manner between trainees and seasoned members in the field of geriatric psychiatry results in almost 75 percent of those trainee participants pursuing specialized geriatric fellowships.

The GMHF Scholars program will be instrumental in ensuring that the nation’s elderly population has access to comprehensive mental health services in the next decade.

What Are The Components Of The Scholars Program?
The GMHF Scholars Fund is a multi-prong program that will provide access to the field of geriatric psychiatry to medical students and psychiatry residents. Funds will be used to pay for one- or two-year memberships in the Association thereby giving trainees full access to all AAGP member programs and activities; support Scholars’ activities during the AAGP Annual Meeting, including structured mentorship programs; provide scholarships to AAGP’s focused educational programs such as the Maintenance of Certification Conferences; and develop tools for medical students and residents to make informed choices about their medical careers.
 
Components of the GMHF Scholars Program are directed by the GMHF Scholars Planning Group, comprised of leading geriatric educators and training directors. Medical students and psychiatry residents will participate in a competitive process for selection in one or more of the components of the program that include at this time:

• Membership within the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP)
• Structured Scholars Program for medical students and psychiatry residents in conjunction with the AAGP Annual Meeting
• Individual mentorship opportunities for trainees
• Travel support for trainees to attend the AAGP Scholars Programs

How Are The Scholars Chosen?
Psychiatry clerkship directors from accredited medical schools and psychiatry residency training directors will be invited to nominate medical students or residents for participation in this prestigious program. Final selections will be made by a group of leading educators in the field of geriatric psychiatry.   

To Apply for a Scholarship
Applications for the 2013 Scholars Program are due October 1, 2012.  Application will be available on this page by June 1, 2012. 

Donate to the Scholars Program

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Program Information and Application

Applications Due:  October 1, 2012
Application will be available by June 1, 2012.

Terms of the Scholarship
Components of the GMHF Scholars Program are directed by the GMHF Scholars Planning Group, comprised of leading geriatric educators and training directors. Medical students and psychiatry residents will participate in a competitive process for selection in one or more of the components of the program that include at this time:

• Membership within the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP)
• Registration to the AAGP Annual Meeting and the Structured Scholars Program for medical students and psychiatry residents (see details below)
• Travel support for trainees to attend the AAGP Scholars Programs and AAGP Annual Meeting

Scholars who receive travel support or meeting registration are required to participate fully in the Scholars Program held during the Annual Meeting.  Scholars program events include the following:

Scholars Program Events at the 2013 AAGP Annual Meeting
Chair: Kirsten Wilkins, MD

Schedule of Events TBD

Scholars who apply for the program must be able to attend the AAGP Annual Meeting March 14 - 17, 2013.

GMHF Honors Scholarships
These prestigious scholarships are available to psychiatry residents in their first, second, or third year of training and will be granted to the most highly qualified applicants as determined by the selection committee. Each named scholarship will include:

• A one-year membership in the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
• Airfare and hotel accommodations to participate in the Scholars Program held in conjunction with the AAGP Annual Meeting
• Full registration to the AAGP Annual Meeting
• Ongoing mentorship throughout the year 

The Honors Scholars will participate in ongoing AAGP activities, such as AAGP committee initiatives, an academic project related to geriatric psychiatry working with an assigned mentor, and other unique opportunities. 

Who May Apply?

• Medical Students in an LCME- or COCA-accredited medical school may apply for general scholarships
• General Psychiatry Residents in PGY 1-4 in an ACGME- or AOA-accredited training program may apply for general scholarships
• Only Psychiatry Residents in PGY-1, 2, or 3 may apply for the Honors Scholarships

Procedures for Application
Application packets should include the following documents:

1. Application form (available by June 1, 2012) signed by applicant and appropriate faculty member as indicated
2. Letter of intent and interest from the student or resident
3. Applicant’s curriculum vitae or resume
4. Letter of recommendation from 
   a. Psychiatry clerkship director or other education director (for medical students) or
   b. Psychiatry Training Director or geriatrics-specific faculty member, if appropriate (for psychiatry residents)

Send the application packet to:

GMHF Scholars Program Selection Committee
7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 1050
Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: 301-654-7850 x112
Email: training@AAGPonline.org

Application Deadline: October 1, 2012

The program participants will be announced in December. 

For additional information, please phone or email Carrie Stankiewicz (301-654-7850 x112; training@AAGPonline.org.).