On December 1, 1999, the Student Doctor Network (SDN) launched as a grassroots, donor-supported platform providing free advising resources, tools, and peer support forums for students. For 25 years, SDN has guided countless aspiring healthcare professionals on their journeys.
“Over the years, websites have come and gone, but SDN has stood the test of time,” said longtime moderator GoSpursGo. “Many of us came to SDN as students and are now practicing healthcare professionals. We stay because we value this community and want to give back to the next generation of healthcare providers.”
“As we move into the next quarter-century, our team wanted to find a new way to support students,” said Laura Turner, Executive Director of the Health Professional Student Association, publishers of SDN. “So we came up with the idea of launching a new scholarship program targeted at prehealth students.”
SDN Prehealth Scholarship
In celebration of our 25th anniversary, the newly established Student Doctor Network Prehealth Scholarship is a $2,500 award to prehealth students committed to improving the health of their marginalized or underserved home community as a doctoral-level health professional. Candidates must submit a professional school application for the 2025-2026 application cycle for these health professional careers:
- Medicine (MD/DO)
- Dentistry (DMD/DDS)
- Optometry (OD)
- Pharmacy (PharmD)
- Podiatry (DPM)
- Psychology (PsyD/PhD)
- Veterinary Medicine (DVM/VMD)
- Rehabilitation Sciences
- Audiology/Speech Language Pathology (AuD/PhD)
- Occupational Therapy (OTD)
- Physical Therapy (DPT)
The award is designed to help students with the expenses associated with the application process.
To learn more, review the scholarship description and terms, and apply here.
Anniversary Discounts
In addition to the scholarship, SDN is offering exclusive discounts from our trusted partners to thank our community. “SDN would not be where we are today without the support of our sponsors and partners,” said Turner.
“As SDN celebrates 25 years, I’m humbled by the incredible work of our volunteers, members, and staff,” said founder Lee Burnett, DO, FAAFP. “We invite you to join us in shaping the future of SDN—whether you’re a student seeking guidance, a professional giving back, or an organization supporting our mission. Together, we can ensure every aspiring healthcare provider has the tools they need to succeed.”
Laura Turner, MS, is the Executive Director of the Health Professional Student Association (HPSA), which publishes the Student Doctor Network (SDN). Prior to working with HPSA, she served for eight years as the Executive Director of SDN. At HPSA and SDN, Laura has been instrumental in providing students with tools and resources to pursue their aspirations in healthcare. Her previous roles include business analyst positions at The Capital Group and product management and marketing roles at software companies Paciolan, Adexa, and MSC Software.
In her current role at HPSA, Laura continues to drive innovation and forge partnerships to better support aspiring healthcare professionals. She is grateful for the opportunity to help countless individuals to achieve their dreams.