Student Leader fellowship

Purpose

Leadership Fellows are out and openly self-identified lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or gender diverse PA student members of the Caucus who are chosen through a competitive selection process to participate in a 12 month fellowship to foster leadership and professional development within the PA profession.

Honorarium

A $1000 travel stipend is available to offset the cost of attending AAPA's annual conference. Failure to attend the conference results in forfeiture of the stipend.  Award funding is not guaranteed and depends on the amount of funding available that year. Applicants will be notified immediately if funding is less than in full.

Eligibility

Recipients must be openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or gender diverse student members of the Caucus, enrolled in an accredited Physician Assistant program from the date the application is submitted through the conference dates. Priority is given to active student members of the Caucus.

Selection criteria includes, but is not limited to:  overcoming adversity/inspiration, integrity, service, financial need, creativity/innovation, and knowledge, skills and abilities.

Expectations

Active involvement in Caucus activities during the AAPA annual conference, such as setting up/taking down and staffing the Exhibit Hall booth, and attending Caucus meetings and receptions.  Fellows will be assigned a mentor to meet with inside the HOD while the house is in session.  Other activities as charged by the Caucus President during the conference, and during the upcoming leadership term (July through June) such as writing an article about your AAPA conference experiences for the Caucus newsletter, participating in monthly board teleconference calls, promoting the fellowship, and encouraging engagement by potential applicants.

Instructions

Write an essay of 1-3 pages (typed, double spaced, 12 pt font, 1” margins) including the following:

• Address any issues which arose prior to or after enrollment in PA school that make you want to participate in the leadership of the Caucus.
• Tell us what you hope to achieve through your involvement with the Caucus.
• Tell us how you propose to contribute to achieving the mission and vision of the Caucus.
• Discuss your professional goals as a graduate PA and how they relate to your experience as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or gender diverse person.
• Tell us how you have personally dealt with intolerance or discrimination towards you or a close friend based on sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression. Are you satisfied with how you handled it, and if not, how might you have responded differently?
• Tell us about your financial need for this award.

Letter of Recommendation from faculty is OPTIONAL

Email completed LBGT PA Student Award Application, essay and any other attachments to info@lbgtpa.org

Deadline

Applications are due by 12:00 midnight Eastern Time on January 15 annually.

Applicants may be asked to participate in an interview via Skype call with a member of the selection committee.