Awards

SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT

The maximum value of the award is up to $2,200.

APPLICATION TIMELINE

• Currently closed: Next award period expected to open in March 2025

GENERAL INFORMATION

Interested students should apply to the VESP in addition to applying to the elective rotation. Notification of the VESP award will be made in early April.

The award amount will be made available to the scholar upon successful completion of the rotation. Accompanying receipts will be required and funds expensed in accordance with UC policy.

Important: Before applying to the VESP, each student must complete an application form through the Association of American Medical Colleges Visiting Student Learning Opportunity's Online Application and complete the supplemental application form specific to Orthopaedic Surgery. For more information, please visit the UC San Diego Visiting Student webpage.

ELIGIBILITY

• Enrolled as a full-time, fourth-year medical student in good standing at an accredited United States medical school
• Applied to and accepted by applicant's desired UC San Diego Department of Orthopaedic Surgery’s clinical elective program
• Recognized as being from an underrepresented background in neuromusculoskeletal research as defined by National Institutes of Health (NIH)

APPLICATION PROCESS AND REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

• Application form
• Curriculum vitae or résumé
• Medical school transcript
• USMLE Step 1 pass verification
• One letter of recommendation submitted directly by the endorser to mfavila@health.ucsd.edu by the application deadline
• Personal statement (400 words or less)

SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT

The award is valued at $1,500.

APPLICATION TIMELINE

• Open through January 3, 2025

ELIGIBILITY  

• Enrolled as a fourth-year medical student at UC San Diego School of Medicine and part of the graduating class
• Completed a subinternship in orthopedic surgery
• Applied to an orthopedic surgery residency program

APPLICATION PROCESS AND REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

• Application form   
• Curriculum vitae or résumé
• Proof of subinternship in orthopedic surgery
• Proof of application to a residency program in orthopedic surgery
• Personal statement (1,000 words or less) describing applicant’s training, commitment to service, notable accomplishments, and career goals
• Letter of recommendation submitted directly by the endorser to mfavila@health.ucsd.edu by the application deadline

Only completed applications with all supporting documents will be considered.

ABOUT DR. GARFIN

Dr. Garfin is an internationally renowned orthopedic spine surgeon who has been a pioneer in complex reconstructive spine surgery. He earned his medical degree at the University of Minnesota and completed an orthopedic surgery residency at UC San Diego School of Medicine. He did a fellowship in adult spine disorders at the eminent Rothman Institute in Philadelphia. Dr. Garfin joined the faculty at UC San Diego in 1981, served as chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery from 1997 to 2018 and is currently interim dean of the UC San Diego School of Medicine. Beloved by his patients, colleagues and trainees, he has imparted his exceptional surgical, teaching, and leadership acumen to his resident and fellow trainees, many of whom have risen to become pioneers and leaders in their own right.

Dr. Garfin’s innovative work has contributed to the development of current international standards, techniques, and instrumentation in the surgical care of the spine. He was one of the earliest to implement and participate in the evolution of segmental pedicle screw fixation and was the seminal pioneer of Kyphoplasty, a technique that has improved the lives of patients with osteoporotic spine compression fractures. He has served as a leader locally, nationally and internationally and has been president of the North American Spine Society, the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery, the Cervical Spine Research Society and the San Diego Chapter of the Western Orthopedic Association. In 2013, Dr. Garfin received the Leon Wiltse Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Society for the Study of Lumbar Spine.