Indiana University Northwest and the Indiana University School of Medicine have joined together to offer a full eight-year full tuition scholarship for urban high school graduates who want to practice medicine as a profession. The Urban Medicine Scholarship program is designed for students who live in, or graduated high school from an urban area. It offers full tuition for the completion of an undergraduate degree at IU Northwest and a medical degree at the IU School of Medicine.

“This is an outstanding opportunity for urban high school students from the region who want to become physicians. We not only have an excellent pre-professional program at IU Northwest, but the Northwest campus also serves as one of the locations for the Indiana School of Medicine at the Northwest Center for Medical Education,” says Dr. Atilla Tuncay, IU Northwest health professions advisor. 

The new Urban Medicine Scholarship offers recipients of the award admission to IU Northwest as undergraduates. The student may major in any area of study, but must complete the academic requirements for admission to IU School of Medicine. Upon completion of a bachelor's degree and the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), the Urban Medicine Scholarship recipient will be able to attend one of the nine sites for the IU School of Medicine.  Eligibility requirements for the Urban Medicine Scholarship include:

• Residence in or graduation from an urban area where there is a shortage of physicians.
• Graduation from an accredited high school with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher (on a 4.0 scale)
• SAT score of 1200 or higher (or ACT equivalent)
• Demonstration of leadership in high school and/or within student's community
• Willingness to practice medicine in a medically undeserved area in Indiana for at least 4 years

“The total value of this scholarship could exceed $100,000 and gives students from urban areas a unique opportunity to realize their dream of becoming a physician,” says Dr. William Baldwin, director of the Northwest Center for Medical Education at IU Northwest. “It also gives them a way to serve those around them in areas where there is a shortage of physicians and to become a role model for other young people.”

More information or to obtain an application for the Urban Medicine Scholarship program is available by contacting Dr. Tuncay at 219-980-6745 or Dr. Baldwin at 219-980-6555. The application deadline is April 1, 2001. More information on IU Northwest and the Northwest Center for Medical Education is at www.iun.edu.