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MD Program

Current Student Scholarships

In addition to the scholarships awarded as part of the admissions financial package offers, throughout the degree program other opportunities for scholarships may arise for students interested in specific specialty areas of medicine. Students are notified of these scholarship opportunities and their eligibility criteria when applications open. These opportunities range include scholarships, grants, awards, contests, and other opportunities. There are also Service Programs that offer scholarships in return for working in designated areas after residency. Active Scholarship opportunities will be included on this page! For any questions regarding scholarships or the opportunities below, please contact the Assistant Director of Scholarships and Awards, Brandon Woodmancy, at Brandon_Woodmancy@med.unc.edu.

The Joseph Collins Foundation Scholarship

 

The Joseph Collins Foundation Scholarship is an annual and renewable award of $15,000 to begin in a student’s first year.  The Foundation was created in 1951 in honor of Dr. Joseph Collins, a pioneer in the field of neurology, and its purpose is to help “medical students to achieve an education without sacrificing all other interests in the broad fields of learning.”  Financial need is a prerequisite for the Collins Award, as are the following factors:

 

  1. Scholastic record and academic standing;
  2. *A demonstrated interest in arts, fine arts, and letters or other cultural pursuits outside the field of medicine;*
  3. Plans to specialize in neurology, psychiatry, or general medicine; and
  4. Good moral character.

 

UNC/SOM may nominate one first-year student for this award. If you meet the requirements above and are interested in being considered, we invite you to submit an anonymized one-page letter in support of yourself for this award.  The deadline is Sunday, February 8th, 2026. Once the review committee decides on a UNC nominee, we will inform all applicants of their status, and the selected nominee must complete a formal application which includes the completed application form, a brief autobiography, letter of recommendation from a professor, college and medical school transcripts and a photo of themself.

 

If you’re interested in being considered, please email your anonymized one-page letter in support of yourself with information about what makes you a great candidate for this scholarship to Brandon_Woodmancy@med.unc.edu no later than Sunday, February 8th, 2026. Please make the subject line “Joseph Collins Scholarship” and submit the following statement if you agree to its contents: “I understand that my application will receive a holistic review, which includes professionalism, academics, financial support, and being a good member of the UNC community”.

The Patient Voice in Family Medicine Scholarship was created in 2024 to support students entering the field of Family Medicine and who have a passion for creating a safe and welcoming environment for the patient experience.

Applicants must be current MS4s who are set to graduate in 2026 and planning to enter Family Medicine. To apply, you should submit the following to Brandon Woodmancy by the end of day, Tuesday, February 24th, 2026 at Brandon_Woodmancy@med.unc.edu:

  • A completed CV
  • A Letter of Recommendation from a Family Medicine Physician/Faculty
  • A 1-page response to the following question:
    • Give us an example of a patient interaction that shapes your view on medicine?
  • Additionally affirm that you understand the review process and release the application material and all relevant information to the review committee by including the following statement in your email: “I understand that the Office of Medical Student Education and the review committee is involved in a holistic review of applications including professionalism, academics, and being a good member of the UNC community”
Two recipients will be selected from the applicants. Scholarship amount is being finalized and more information on that will be announced later.

Please direct all questions to Brandon Woodmancy at Brandon_Woodmancy@med.unc.edu.

The Deborah C. Leary Award is presented annually to a graduating fourth-year student. The submitted research papers will be judged by a faculty reviewer.  From the submissions, we often have a Best Overall and Honorary Mentions. It has been awarded annually since 1958.  

 

To apply please submit your application by Sunday, February 22, 2026, to Brandon_Woodmancy@med.unc.edu.  Kindly enter “Deborah C. Leary Award” in the subject line of your email. Additionally affirm that you understand the review process and release the application material and all relevant information to the review committee by including the following statement in your email: “I understand that the Office of Medical Student Education and the review committee is involved in a holistic review of applications including professionalism, academics, and being a good member of the UNC community”

Your submission should be a single PDF and follow the criteria below.

Please submit your research paper with the following criteria taken into consideration:

 

  • Papers should be adequate in length to permit clear exposition, but should not exceed 25 double-spaced typewritten pages (approximately but not limited to 7500 words). Papers should include a critical review of the pertinent literature, and should be written for informed but general readers, rather than specialists in the area of investigation. In addition, the preceptor must submit comments (preferably at the same time as the paper) indicating the extent of the student author’s initiative in the design, execution, and evaluation of the investigation reported. (If an application does not have comments from your preceptor, it will be considered incomplete and not be eligible for the award)
  • The research should be conducted under the guidance of a faculty preceptor and may be laboratory, clinical, or epidemiological research, or an appropriate combination. Investigative work done in collaboration with a preceptor may be reported, but the work presented in a student’s paper must be the sole work of the student.
  • Joint student authorship of papers based on collaborative student investigation must have an accompanying letter from all other co-authors explaining their role(s) in the research.
  • Work that has been submitted in direct fulfillment of another academic degree such as a Ph.D. dissertation is not eligible. However, work derived from a Ph.D. dissertation that is not directly related to the dissertation itself might be eligible. Papers submitted on research involving human subjects must include documentation that researchers complied with the requirements for education on the protection of human research participants described at http://research.unc.edu/offices/human-research-ethics/.
  • Recently published papers that meet all listed requirements are eligible for submission.
  • Papers submitted as fulfillment of academic work (e.g., term papers, thesis, dissertation) may NOT be submitted for the Deborah C. Leary award.
  • Almost all scientific papers these days have multiple collaborators. As long as the student is first author and was the principal person with regard to the research goal, developing the methods, conducting the study, writing and interpreting the results, and writing the paper, it would be eligible for the Leary submission.
  • Research/papers completed outside UNC are not eligible for submission.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email Brandon Woodmancy at Brandon_Woodmancy@med.unc.edu.

The Howard Holderness Distinguished Medical Scholars Program is now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 academic year.

 

To apply, please submit the following to Jessica Vaughan (jmvaugh@email.unc.edu) via email:

– a copy of your UNC SOM transcript (an unofficial transcript is acceptable)

– a CV/resume

– a brief personal statement: one-half to one page discussion of the reasons why you feel that you would benefit from this program along with a listing of the possible areas of independent study that you might wish to pursue (single-spaced)

 

Additional FAQs:

  1. It is not essential that you have a definite plan or project already planned. Prior research experience is not a requirement.
  2. Applications should be submitted no later than February 13th, 2026.
  3. If accepted, students would begin the research year (or “1st year”) in early August (start of Block 5) and transition back to clinical rotations in early June (Block 3). Students are encouraged to remain engaged with the program after transitioning back to individualization phase by attending seminars when possible, and mentoring 1st year scholars.
  4. Complete applications will be reviewed as they are received, and applicants will be invited for an interview with Dr. Feltner and Dr. Eckert. We hope to complete the interviews and finalize application decisions by the end of February. However, this will depend on the number of applications received and scheduling restraints.

 

If you have questions concerning the program or procedures for application, please email Dr. Cindy Feltner (cindy_feltner@med.unc.edu).

J. Rush Shull Scholarship – An MS4 scholarships for students who place in a primary care specialty in North Carolina

Paul A. Godley Fellowship – An MS1 Fellowship where two students will complete a summer project with the Ackerland Museum around art and medicine

– Pisacano Fellowship- An MS3 fellowship run by an national organization for people going into Family Medicine – https://pisacano.org/ Due May 1st 
– Dr. Hope Babette Tang Humanism in Healthcare Essay Contest – An essay contest focused on the humanism involved in healthcare – gold-foundation.org/programs/essay-contest/ Due March 16th
– NC Diversity & Equity in Emergency Medicine Scholarship – A second year scholarship opportunity sponsored by Wake Emergency Physicians, PA in the triangle community – NC Diversity & Equity in Emergency Medicine Scholarship | Triangle Community Foundation Due March 9th