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)
- Rehabilitation Sciences
- Audiology/Speech Language Pathology (AuD/PhD)
- Occupational Therapy (OTD)
- Physical Therapy (DPT)
This scholarship award is designed to help students with authorized expenses associated with the application process. Authorized expenses do not include tuition, academic fees, books, room and board.
For the 2025 award, the Student Doctor Network Scholarship Committee (the “Committee”) will award four (4) $2,500 scholarships, one in each of the following categories:
- One (1) for a student pursuing Medicine (MD/DO degree)
- One (1) for a student pursuing Dentistry (DDS/DMD degree)
- One (1) for a student pursuing Psychology (PhD/PsyD degree)
- One (1) for a student pursuing Pharmacy (PharmD degree), Podiatry (DPM degree), Optometry (OD degree), Veterinary Medicine (DVM degree), or Rehabilitation Sciences (DPT/OTD/AuD degree)
The scholarship is awarded based on a two-phase process.
Phase 1: Initial Screening
Applicants provide information on their background. The initial application will be open from December 1, 2024, to January 6, 2025. Those selected for finalist screening will be informed by early February.
Phase 2: Finalist Evaluation
Finalists must complete a short video interview after submitting letters of recommendation, a resume/curriculum vitae, and answer a short essay prompt. Finalists must submit their information by March 14, 2025. Awardees will be announced by May 1, 2025.
Application
Applications will be accepted starting December 1, 2024.
Scholarship Timeline
| Date | Event |
| December 1, 2024 | Initial Screening Applications Open |
| January 6, 2025 | Initial Screening Applications Close |
| Early February | Finalists are notified |
| March 14, 2025 | Finalist evaluation materials must be submitted |
| May 1, 2025 | Awardees announced |
Eligibility
The scholarship is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents age 18 and older applying to one of the following doctoral-level health professions in the 2025-2026 application cycle:
- Medicine (MD/DO)
- Dentistry (DMD/DDS)
- Optometry (OD)
- Pharmacy (PharmD)
- Podiatry (DPM)
- Psychology (PsyD/PhD)
- Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
- Rehabilitation Sciences
- Audiology/Speech Language Pathology (AuD/PhD)
- Occupational Therapy (OTD)
- Physical Therapy (DPT)
The applicant must be (i) in good academic standing with or (ii) a graduate of an accredited university or college within the U.S.
Eligibility Exceptions
The Committee reserves the right to give consideration to, and render decisions based upon, circumstances not mentioned or anticipated herein regarding applicant eligibility. In all such cases, the interpretation of circumstances and decisions rendered by the Committee are final.
Scholarship Changes
The Committee reserves the right to suspend, revise, revoke or terminate this Scholarship program at any time, although any such action would not affect previously awarded scholarships. The interpretation of all aspects of the SDN Prehealth Scholarship is determined by the Committee, whose decisions are final.
Assignment and Transfer
An awardee of this Scholarship may waive the right to receive a Scholarship. However, Scholarship awards are non-assignable and non-transferable and may not be used for any purpose other than to pay for the Awardee’s expenses related to the application of one of the above-listed doctoral-level health professions.
Payment of Funds
Scholarship awards will be paid directly to Awardees via check. Awardees are responsible for consulting their own tax advisor as to the tax consequences associated with the Scholarship.
Participation
By applying for the SDN Prehealth Scholarship, applicants agree to be bound by the rules and provisions herein and the decisions of the Committee, which are final and binding in all respects. By submitting an application to the Committee, each applicant represents and warrants that all of the information provided by them in connection with the Scholarship application process is true and accurate and that the applicant meets the eligibility criteria described herein.
Verification of Use of Funds
If awarded a Scholarship, Awardees shall provide HPSA with evidence of the use of funds from the Scholarship with associated application expenses. This may include, but is not limited to, proof of application, interview and travel expenses, or application fees.
Publicity Release
By applying for the Scholarship, each applicant agrees that Health Professional Student Association (“HPSA”) has the absolute right and permission to publish your name, biographical information, and likeness in connection with the Scholarship without limitation, review or approval, or compensation to such applicant.
Release
By applying for this Scholarship, each applicant agrees to fully release, forever discharge, and hold harmless HPSA from any and all claims, costs, liabilities, losses, injuries, and damages arising out of the Scholarship.