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October 15, 2008—
Healthy Kids—Healthy Communities
Current and past Fellows are invited to attend this year’s gathering which will focus on the needs of children in our communities.
FAQ
Who is eligible for a Bush Medical Fellowship?
Are certain programs of study given priority?
What financial support is provided?
Must the fellowship be completed in a single block of time?
Who is eligible for a Bush Medical Fellowship?
Applicants to the program must be:
- Physicians currently practicing in Minnesota, North Dakota or South Dakota.
- At least 35 years old and at least 10 years out of medical or osteopathic college.
- Able to state clearly their needs and opportunities for application of new skills and knowledge, both for the communities they serve and for their own career development.
- Able to explain how their programs will benefit an underserved population or need.
Previous Bush Medical Fellows may not reapply.
If a physician (or his or her spouse/partner) is an elected official or public policymaker, the physician may receive a grant for a degree-granting program only. {Go to Top}
Are certain programs of study given priority?
All programs must have the potential of benefiting an underserved population or need. As community needs change, different programs of study will evolve. The guidelines provide more information on this topic. {Go to Top}
What financial support is provided?
During the three- to 12-month fellowship period, the program provides financial allowances for stipend, tuition and travel. The stipend is intended to make up partially for lost income while the fellow is away from the practice of medicine. Tuition funds may be used for books and conferences as well as for tuition expenses. Travel funds may be used for airfare, auto mileage and lodging expenses.
- Programs range from three to 12 months in length. Current stipend support is $5,000 per month.
- Fellows receive tuition and travel support of $4,000 and $3,000, respectively.
- Limited matching funds are available for programs that require more tuition or travel.
- Fellows are required to make monthly requisitions for stipend and expenses reimbursement. During the period of the fellowship, net income from the stipend and the physician’s practice may not exceed net compensation from the physician’s practice during the comparable period in the preceding year.
- For most fellows, stipend payments are subject to state and federal taxes. The Bush Foundation does not report stipend, tuition and travel expense payments to the Internal Revenue Service. Fellows are encouraged to keep accurate personal records of their payments and to consult their tax advisers about the tax liabilities of fellowship benefits. {Go to Top}
Must the fellowship be completed in a single block of time?
Fellows are encouraged to pursue their programs of study continuously until finished. However, it is possible to study in segments or on a part-time basis. The time away is most beneficial when taken in as large a chunk as possible. The program of study must be completed within three years of receiving the grant. {Go to Top}
Applications must be submitted by March 1 of each year. However, potential applicants may contact program staff throughout the year to explore and refine their programs of study. {Go to Top}
The Bush Medical Fellows Program’s Policy Board reviews all applications in mid March. Policy Board members screen applications for their potential benefits to the community and the candidate. Programs must be practical and appropriate to the applicant’s goals.
Applicants who successfully complete this first review are invited to a two-day selection seminar in early May. This final phase of the selection process involves interaction with other candidates and their spouses/partners, presentations by previous fellows, interviews and an opportunity to further develop and modify their programs of study. Not all participants invited to this seminar will be selected as fellows.
Candidates will be notified of their status within a week of the selection seminar. {Go to Top}
Each applicant will define his or her ‘community of need.’
The focus may be very narrow:
- a specific subset within a current practice (pediatric oncology patients)
Or it may be broader:
- the mental health needs of a clinical service area
It may even expand to a state or regional focus:
- to develop a model that can be used to incorporate cross-cultural competency into medical provider organizations
Each applicant will define ‘community’ as it applies to his or her program of study.
Ka Vang
David Larson
Bill Allen
What is a Bush Fellow?