First-Generation Scholarship
This $3,000 scholarship provided by the Osteopathic Founders Foundation, to be used during the recipient’s next year of study, will annually recognize, honor, and encourage one osteopathic medical student who is the first in their immediate family to graduate from post-secondary education prior to osteopathic medical school matriculation.
The recipient will be selected by a committee of the Board of Directors from all applications received from the combined OSU-COM campuses.
2024 is the inaugural year for this scholarship.
Eligibility Criteria
* Rising OMS II, OMS III or OMS IV student
* First in the immediate family to graduate from post-secondary education prior to osteopathic medical school matriculation
Required Documents for Application
* Personal statement that describes the path to post-secondary education, the decision to pursue a career in osteopathic medicine and a discussion of goals for future practice. (written by applicant)
* Current photo (in jpg or png format)
* CV
Application will open April 1, 2025 for the 2025-2026 academic year.
2024 First-Generation Scholarship
The recipient of the inaugural 2024 First-Generation Scholarship is Deserée Jones. Deserée received a degree in biology from Tulsa Community college followed by a degree in cellular and molecular biology from Northeastern State University. She is an Albert Schweitzer Fellow, where she pioneered a program to build a school-to-healthcare pipeline, and a George Kaiser Family Foundation Scholar in Urban Medicine. In 2022, she assisted in the organization of a three-day regional conference with 200 medical students of color from 7 states. Deserée solidified her desire to follow a career in osteopathic medicine when encountering a compassionate osteopathic physician during the treatment of a family member. She was also recipient of the 2023 Founders’ Leadership Award.