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Benjamin H. Kean Traveling Fellowship in Tropical Medicine
Who: Medical students interested in tropical medicine and international health
What: Financial support for clinical and research electives in the tropics
When: Application deadline: April 1, 2007
How: Submit the materials listed below
Background
Dr. Benjamin H. Kean was a renowned teacher, researcher and practitioner of tropical medicine whose mentorship and support helped many medical students and physicians-in-training begin and sustain careers in tropical medicine and international health. He believed that early hands-on experience in the tropics was the best way to stimulate such careers, and he was instrumental in helping many medical students obtain these experiences.
The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene has established a fellowship in Dr. Kean's name, administered by the American Committee on Clinical Tropical Medicine and Traveler's Health (ACCTMTH), that will provide travel expenses for medical students who arrange clinical or research electives in tropical areas. Round-trip airfare (best-price ticketing) and up to $700 toward living expenses will be provided. Kean Fellows will be required to prepare and present reports describing their activities.
1998 Kean fellows undertook clinical electives in Guatemala and Uganda, and research electives in Laos and Haiti. In 1999, Kean fellows participated in projects in Peru, Brazil, Nepal, Kenya and India. The fellows who participated in 2000 undertook projects in Haiti, Benin, Nepal, Bolivia, Cameroon, Uganda and Indonesia. Participating fellows in 2001 had projects in Uganda, Durban, Blantyre and Brazil. Awards in 2002 were given to five fellows with research projects in Botswana, and Gabon. Fellows with clinical electives had projects in Brazil, Thailand, and Uganda. In 2003, Kean fellows participated in projects in Peru, Guatemala, Democratic Republic of Congo and Ecuador.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be a full-time student in a North American accredited school of medicine at the time of the application and at the time of the elective
- Propose an elective in tropical medicine research or training in clinical tropical medicine including at least one month at a site endemic for tropical communicable diseases, starting after June 1, 2007. The fellowship does not support electives in non-tropical areas or participation in organized didactic courses.
- Not have done previous electives/rotations in the same country. Prior travel to the country for vacations or other non-medical reasons is acceptable.
Preference will be given to:
- Applicants sponsored by a member of the ACCTMTH
- Applicants proposing electives lasting longer than one month
- Applicants who have not had previous extensive overseas experience
- Applicants who propose to study tropical communicable diseases other than HIV/AIDS
Selection Criteria
Applicants will be selected based on their academic credentials, recommendations, quality of their proposal and especially on evidence of a sincere interest in pursuing a career in tropical medicine or international health.
Benjamin H. Kean Fellowship Application Instructions:
Deadline for submission: April 1, 2007
All materials provided by the applicant (not including letters of recommendation) must use 11 point font or larger and have 1 inch margins. Please be concise.
Submit four copies of the application package containing the following documents and send to the address at the end of this announcement:
- Cover letter of no more than two pages on your school’s letterhead including:
- Why you are interested in tropical medicine
- Describe any prior overseas experience
- Describe your short and long-term career objectives
- Curriculum vitae containing education, training, work experience, prior research experience, any publications or abstracts, honors and awards. Be sure to include institutional affiliation, year of medical school, mailing address, telephone and fax numbers and e-mail address.
- Three letters of recommendation from:
- The supervising faculty mentor from your school
- Your dean of student affairs or equivalent
- A current or former teacher or supervisor who can attest to your academic, clinical, and/or research abilities and potential
- Written approval from a mentor who will present at the overseas site during the elective (this may be the same as the home medical school mentor if they will be on site for the elective)
- A proposal of no more than three pages, describing:
- Dates and duration of elective
- Description of overseas site
- Specific objectives of elective
- For research projects, rationale and significance, methods and anticipated problems
- For clinical projects, description of clinical activities and responsibilities
- Anticipated costs for travel, including best-price round-trip airfare and living expenses
Please type your name, home institution and proposed destination on the top of each page of your application.
Submit to:
B.H. Kean Fellowship,
Christopher Plowe, M.D., M.P.H.
University of Maryland School of Medicine
685 West Baltimore Street, HSF1-480
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
For more information:
Errica Muriel
410-706-2491
Fax. 410-706-1204
E-mail: emuriel@medicine.umaryland.edu
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