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OMEF exists to support students and help them do their best.  Oregon’s DO, MD, and PA students are among our most precious resources, and we believe that there is no better investment than in them, the future of medicine. OMEF is the only organization focused solely on supporting the next generation of healthcare providers and leaders, and we can't do it alone.

With a focus on students from communities historically underrepresented in medicine (URiM), OMEF supports current medical students in good academic standing in any of the following programs:

  • College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific NW (DO students)
  • George Fox Physician Assistant Program (PA students)
  • OHSU School of Medicine (MD students, including those pursuing dual degree MD/PhD or MD/MPH)
  • OHSU Physician Assistant Program (PA students)
  • Pacific University Physician Assistant Program (PA students)

Over 40% of students pursuing a medical education are food-insecure. They are struggling to afford enough healthy food, which makes everything feel harder.

In Oregon, 2/3 of students never find a mentor, roughly 1,000 students. Unsurprisingly the rates are higher among female and BIPOC students.

The cost of a medical education has outpaced inflation, doubling every 9 years. Presently the average medical school debt is $300k. This level of debt not only causes tremendous stress, it influences which area of medicine they decide to practice. More and more, students are making career choices based on finances, not where the greatest need is.

To combat systemic inequities, initiatives aimed at increasing diversity and improving cultural competency within the profession must be a priority.

Creative solutions - and different incentives - are needed.

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    Every dollar counts!

    $100 helps cover fuel and transport costs to rotations and interviews.

    $250 helps relieve food insecurity with a month of healthy, nutritious food.

    $500 helps cover the additional rent a student pays on short-term housing during rotation.

    $1,000 can get valuable resources like question banks and sample exams into a hard-working, time-poor student’s hands, saving time and increasing retention of the material.

    $5,000 can make a significant dent in a student’s loan debt, giving them the freedom to choose the area of medicine and the communities that they feel called to serve. 

    $10,000 helps cover tuition and living expenses for several months.  The cost of a medical education has risen at twice the rate of inflation, doubling every 9 years!  Without scholarships like ours, a medical education is simply out of reach for many talented students, especially those from disadvantaged communities.  

    $25,000+ can create a scholarship or name a program to honor a special person or support a particular program. 

Thank you, Sponsors!