ElevateMeD announces inaugural Scholars Program cohort

ElevateMeD Scholar Recipients Selected & #GivingTuesdayNow

FOR RELEASE ON MAY 4, 2020

Scottsdale, Arizona- In just one year, Scottsdale based nonprofit ElevateMeD has successfully self funded and now proudly announces the inaugural cohort of the Scholars Program on May 4th, 2020. The 2020-2021 Scholars Program features a dynamic group of 10 medical students selected from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine from partner medical schools.

The ElevateMeD Scholars program is a multifaceted program designed to develop the next generation of physician leaders. Each Scholar will be awarded a $10,000 scholarship for each year remaining in their medical degree in addition to physician mentorship, access to peer network support, leadership development opportunities and financial management education. The applicant pool began with 30 student nominations from partnering institutions., the Members of the Board of Directors reviewed their applications and selected this year’s cohort.

ElevateMeD Scholar Announcement

The 2020-2021 Scholars Program and their respective institutions are as listed:

Aaron Bia, University of Arizona

Anthony Osifuye, University of Minnesota

Christian Freeman, Emory University

Gabriela Alejo, UT Southwestern Medical Center

Harvey Lewis, Howard University

Kalonji Cole, Charles R. Drew University/UCLA

Louisa Appiah, East Carolina University

Mahdieh Hosseini, Temple University

Shannon Coombs, Mayo Clinic

Shanita Thomas, Wayne State University

The official Scholars page can be found at www.elevatemed.org/scholars.

Founder Dr. Alyx Porter Umphrey understands the importance of this moment as it relates to the future of healthcare. “Of all of the moments filled with various emotions that have been brought forward by CoVID-19, one of the most impactful and sustaining has been the selection process of our inaugural cohort of Scholars. I have never been more certain that our future is bright. These brilliant medical students embody the drive, resilience, and tenacity that is required to affect change regarding the disparities we see in healthcare.”

5/5/20 ElevateMeD #GivingTuesdayNow Social Distancing Challenge & Fundraiser

ElevateMeD continues to make an impact by joining the national #GivingTuesdayNow campaign, an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19 for nonprofits, taking place on May 5, 2020. The objective is to bring the world together to elevate the conversation regarding diversity in medicine and raise $10,000 for programming for the 2020-2021 academic year. Learn more about supporting ElevateMeD at

give.elevatemed.org.

ABOUT ElevateMeD:

ElevateMeD is committed to elevating the field of medicine by providing financial support and mentorship to future physicians. We aim to increase physician workforce diversity and improve cultural competence among physicians to reduce health disparities. Learn more about our mission and vision by visiting elevatemed.org and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @elevatemedinc.

Media Contact:

Keiona Eady

keiona@theauthenticmessenger.com | 843-312-1027

Press Releases, FeaturesKeiona EadyMay 4, 2020GivingTuesday, ElevateMeD Press Release

News Spotlights

Scholar Spotlights

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Kendra Roland shares how a life changing moment brought her clarity and purpose, and how the journey to medicine doesn't have to be hard with community support.

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Khadra Hussein shares her interest in advocacy for women's health and how transparent mentorship helped when facing imposter syndrome during her medical school journey.

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ElevateMeD Scholar: Casey Martinez

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Casey Martinez shares why she is passionate about advancing the healthcare system as a Hispanic female physician. Martinez seeks to encourage others through mentorship and teaching.

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Donor Spotlights

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Watch remarks from Mayo Clinic CEO in Arizona, Dr. Richard Gray shared remarks this year and was introduced by 2024-25 ElevateMeD Scholar and 4th year Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine medical student, Casey Martinez.

How Student Organizations Like @OhioAMSA Help Support ElevateMeD

Student organizations like Ohio University American Medical Student Association help us engage bright minds and expand our reach. These organizations are filled with future physicians who will become leaders, thinkers, and doers. We must not only look for ways to partner with these student organizations but also continue to encourage and support them along their physician journey.

Why Council & Associates Gives.

Each year since 2019, Council and Associates LLC has risen to the occasion to become an event sponsor for our Explosion of a Dream and Ignite Atlanta scholarship events. We asked owner, Lashonda Council-Rogers, Esq., to share the why behind her generous giving and to give a view of what she experiences attending ElevateMeD events as a sponsor.

Walton Isaacson Helps ElevateMeD Support The Future of Medicine

Founded in 2006, Walton Isaacson is one of the most respected advertising agencies in the world, having worked with clients such as Lexus, McDonalds, and Amazon to name a few.

Love, Tito’s Continues Support of ElevateMeD Mission During Black History Month

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All Medical Personnel donates over $43,000 to ElevateMeD

All Medical Personnel’s partnership with ElevateMeD continues with a generous donation of $43,000 in 2022. In 2021, $52,647 was raised totaling over $95,000 for the past two years.

Bayless Commitment to Mental Health Scholarship

As part of a two-year pledge to ElevateMeD, this special scholarship is awarded to ElevateMeD Scholars who present a desire to pursue a medical career that will impact mental health in communities of color.

Inspire Youth Enrichment Foundation Grants $50K to ElevateMeD Scholar

In 2019, our organization was introduced to Dr. Timothy Gooding and Mrs. Alisa Gooding, two of the co-founders of Arizona based nonprofit Inspire Youth Enrichment Foundation.

Couple Fundraises for Nonprofit Through Registry in Lieu of Wedding Gifts

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It was not easy for me

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I decided to join the Board of Directors for ElevateMeD because it aligns with my core value of inclusion. The literature showed that to provide the best healthcare to our patients, we need to understand their culture, speak their language, among other factors.

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Gyasi Chisley, PMP, FACHE

The time to transform healthcare is now!

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Tiffany Hardaway MD, MS

You can't be what you can't see.

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I chose to pursue a career in anesthesiology because I enjoy moment-to-moment decision making as well as the practical application of physiology and pharmacology. 3% of anesthesiologists are reported to identify as Black/African-American. Of those 3%, the majority are women.

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