Call for Applications

Application Deadline: April 1, 2007

Who: Medical students interested in tropical medicine

What: Financial support for clinical and research electives in tropical medicine

When: Application deadline: April 1, 2007

How: Submit the materials listed below

Background

Dr. Benjamin H. Kean was a renowned teacher, researcher and practitioner of tropical medicine whose mentorship and support helped many medical students and physicians-in-training begin and sustain careers in tropical medicine. He believed that early hands-on experience in the tropics was the best way to stimulate such careers, and he was instrumental in helping many medical students obtain these experiences.

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene has established a fellowship in Dr. Kean's name, administered by the American Committee on Clinical Tropical Medicine and Traveler's Health (ACCTMTH), that will provide travel expenses for medical students who arrange clinical tropical medicine or tropical medicine research electives in areas afflicted by tropical diseases. Round-trip airfare (best-price ticketing) and up to $700 toward living expenses will be provided. Kean Fellows will be required to prepare and present reports describing their activities.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be a full-time student in a North American accredited school of medicine at the time of the application and at the time of the elective

• Propose an elective in tropical medicine research or training in clinical tropical medicine including at least one month at a site endemic for tropical communicable diseases, starting after June 1, 2007. The fellowship does not support electives in non-tropical areas or participation in organized didactic courses.

• Not have done previous electives/rotations in the same country. Prior travel to the country for vacations or other non-medical reasons is acceptable.

Preference will be given to:

• Applicants sponsored by a member of the ACCTMTH

• Applicants proposing electives lasting longer than one month

• Applicants who have not had previous extensive overseas experience

• Applicants who propose to study tropical communicable diseases other than HIV/AIDS

Selection Criteria

Applicants will be selected by a committee based on their academic and/or research credentials, recommendations, quality of their proposal and the potential for the fellowship to increase the likelihood of a career in tropical medicine.

Application Instructions:

Deadline for submission: April 1, 2007

All materials provided by the applicant (not including letters of recommendation) must use 11 point font or larger and have 1 inch margins. Please be concise.

Submit four copies of the application package containing the following documents and send to the address at the end of this announcement:

• Cover letter of no more than two pages on your school's letterhead including:
  • Why you are interested in tropical medicine
  • Describe any prior overseas experience
  • Describe your short and long-term career objectives
  
  
• Curriculum vitae containing education, training, work experience, prior research experience, any publications or abstracts, honors and awards. Be sure to include institutional affiliation, year of medical school, mailing address, telephone and fax numbers and e-mail address.
  
  
• Three letters of recommendation from:
  • The supervising faculty mentor from your school
  • Your dean of student affairs or equivalent
  • A current or former teacher or supervisor who can attest to your academic, clinical, and/or research abilities and potential
  
  
• Written approval from a mentor who will present at the overseas site during the elective (this may be the same as the home medical school mentor if they will be on site for the elective)
  
  
• A proposal of no more than three pages, describing:
  • Dates and duration of elective
  • Description of overseas site
  • Specific objectives of elective
  • For research projects, rationale and significance, methods and anticipated problems
  • For clinical projects, description of clinical activities and responsibilities
  • Anticipated costs for travel, including best-price round-trip airfare and living expenses

Please type your name, home institution and proposed destination on the top of each page of your application.

Submit to:

B.H. Kean Fellowship
Christopher Plowe, M.D., M.P.H.
University of Maryland School of Medicine
685 West Baltimore Street, HSF1-480
Baltimore, Maryland 21201

For more information:

Errica Muriel
Tel 410-706-2491
Fax 410-706-1204
E-mail: emuriel@medicine.umaryland.edu