Awards and financial aid

The “Rusty Ames” Therapy Dog Award

Presented to a student who has shown qualities that “Rusty” was well known and respected for: compassion and friendliness to others; volunteerism; and dedication to others.

Application deadline: February 15 annually.

The “Rusty Ames” Therapy Dog Award

Presented to a student who has shown qualities that “Rusty” was well known and respected for: compassion and friendliness to others; volunteerism; and dedication to others.

Application deadline: February 15 annually.

Dr. Alan H. Lipson Memorial Award in Medicine

Presented to a student who has demonstrated participation and leadership through volunteer and extracurricular activities, either in the Max Rady College of Medicine or the community at large. Applications are reviewed by a Selection Committee named by the Dean of Max Rady College of Medicine. The successful applicant is notified in advance and presented the award at the annual White Coat Inaugural Ceremony held in August each year.

Application deadline: April 30 annually.

Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Award

Laureates of The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame cite qualities such as perseverance, collaboration and an entrepreneurial spirit as contributors to their success as national and world health leaders. Supported by individual donors, The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Award seeks to recognize medical students who demonstrate these qualities and who show outstanding potential as future leaders and innovators of health care in Canada. Offered to students completing Med II.

Application deadline: May 12, 2023.

MMSA Citizenship Award

Presented to a student who has shown a remarkable contribution to the social and academic well-being of medical students (for example, contribution to campus events, student leadership or student advocacy). Application form [PDF]

MMSA Katherine Anne Klassen Memorial Community Service Award

Presented to a student who has been active in community service outside the Max Rady College of Medicine and the Bannatyne campus (for example, social advocacy, volunteer work, charitable work, youth or religious groups, etc.) Application form [PDF]

MMSA Leadership Award

Presented to a student who has demonstrated remarkable leadership qualities inside or outside the Max Rady College of Medicine. Application form [PDF]

MMSA Global Health Award

Presented to a student who has made a remarkable contribution to global health. Global health contributions may include, but are not limited to, work in Indigenous, inner city, international or refugee health. Application form [PDF]

CFPC Medical Student Scholarships

These awards recognize outstanding medical students who have demonstrated an interest or commitment to a career in family medicine. Each Canadian medical school is invited to nominate a medical student in their second-last undergraduate year of study at the time of application (Med III). Application deadline: April 19, 2023.

CFPC Indigenous Medical Student Scholarship

This award recognizes a top First Nations, Metis, or Inuit medical student in Canada who has shown an interest in or commitment to a career in family medicine. Offered by the College of Family Physicians to students who are completing Med III. IMPORTANT Students must apply directly to the CFPC Honours and Awards Program for the CFPC Indigenous Medical Student Scholarship. Application deadline: April 19, 2023.

Dr. Alan H. Lipson Memorial Award in Medicine

Presented to a student who has demonstrated participation and leadership through volunteer and extracurricular activities, either in the Max Rady College of Medicine or the community at large. Applications are reviewed by a Selection Committee named by the Dean of Max Rady College of Medicine. The successful applicant is notified in advance and presented the award at the annual White Coat Inaugural Ceremony held in August each year. Application deadline: April 30 annually.

MMSA Citizenship Award

Presented to a student who has shown a remarkable contribution to the social and academic well-being of medical students (for example, contribution to campus events, student leadership or student advocacy). Application form [PDF]

MMSA Katherine Anne Klassen Memorial Community Service Award

Presented to a student who has been active in community service outside the Max Rady College of Medicine and the Bannatyne campus (for example, social advocacy, volunteer work, charitable work, youth or religious groups, etc.). Application form [PDF]

MMSA Leadership Award

Presented to a student who has demonstrated remarkable leadership qualities inside or outside the Max Rady College of Medicine. Application form [PDF]

MMSA Global Health Award

Presented to a student who has made a remarkable contribution to global health. Global health contributions may include, but are not limited to, work in Indigenous, inner city, international or refugee health. Application form [PDF]

MMSA Citizenship Award

Presented to a student who has shown a remarkable contribution to the social and academic well-being of medical students (for example, contribution to campus events, student leadership or student advocacy). Application form [PDF]

MMSA Katherine Anne Klassen Memorial Community Service Award

Presented to a student who has been active in community service outside the Max Rady College of Medicine and the Bannatyne campus (for example, social advocacy, volunteer work, charitable work, youth or religious groups, etc.). Application form [PDF]

MMSA Leadership Award

Presented to a student who has demonstrated remarkable leadership qualities inside or outside the Max Rady College of Medicine. Application form [PDF]

MMSA Global Health Award

Presented to a student who has made a remarkable contribution to global health. Global health contributions may include, but are not limited to, work in Indigenous, inner city, international or refugee health. Application form [PDF]

Elective travel

All Med 1, 2, 3 and 4 students have an opportunity to apply for additional elective travel support in June the year they will enter into Med IV in the fall. The support request may be for specific or generalized funding to supplement elective travel expenses during the upcoming academic session. The number of bursaries granted is limited to the amount of funding available and the number of applications received. If there is a surplus of applications, priority for funding will be given to students who have previously demonstrated financial need through their university bursary application.

Application deadline: August 30 annually

Application form [PDF]

Sigga Christianson Houston Travel Award 

The Sigga Christianson Houston Travel Award is a bursary award open to UGME students who:

• show demonstrated financial need on their university bursary application;
• are either (a) registered through the summer early exposure program or (b) are completing clinical electives; and
• complete their eligible clinical elective in a remote northern community within Canada or an underserviced location internationally; under the supervision of a family medicine or pediatrics physician.

Application deadline: August 30 annually

Application form [PDF]

Conference travel

Undergraduate medical education students planning to present a paper or poster at a national or international conference may be eligible to receive funding towards this experience once during their four years of medical school training. Conference travel support is allocated on a first come first serve basis, as long as financial resources remain available, with a February 20 cut off each academic year to allow processing prior to the March 31 fiscal year end. Priority is given to those who have demonstrated financial need. Travel receipts, copy of paper or poster abstract and proof of conference acceptance are required from presenter applicants, prior to funding being released. Application deadline: February 20 annually.

Application form [PDF]

It is important to acknowledge the effort and initiative of donors who have established scholarships, prizes or bursaries, either in loving memory of a family member or previous classmates.

Expressing your thanks is also considered to be an act of professionalism.

Therefore, recipients of named awards, bursaries or scholarships are required to send a thank-you note to the donor with a copy to UGME Awards, effective immediately.

Students who do not send a thank-you note will be deemed ineligible for subsequent scholarships and awards.

If you need assistance identifying the donor and/or finding their contact information, contact UGME Awards.

When writing a thank-you letter it can be difficult to know where to begin. We have provided sample text below to help you get started.

Student name
Address
City, province, postal code

Date

Donor name
Address
City, province, postal code

Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms/Miss/Dr.,

I am writing to thank you for providing the (name of award) through the Max Rady College of Medicine. As a (year of study) student in the Undergraduate Medical Education Program, I am thrilled to be chosen as a recipient of your award.

(Personalize this paragraph to speak to your interest in medicine, favourite subjects, extracurricular activities, a personal story, or highlight learning experiences from the past year.)

I am truly grateful for your support, and look forward to paying your generosity forward when I complete my studies here at the University of Manitoba.

Sincerely,

(signature)

Student name

The Alan Klass Memorial Program for Health Equity provides opportunities for undergraduate medical students to engage in learning activities that address health equity and social accountability, both local and global.

The program provides support and guidance to medical students seeking elective placement or summer early exposure in low resource, under-served communities both international or in Canada.  

 The Alan Klass Memorial Program for Health Equity will award up to $1,500 (adjusted depending on available funds and number of applicants) to undergraduate medical students to support a 2-10 week experience in a low resourced environment, based on a written submission and application that meets the eligibility and criteria below.  

Eligibility

Undergraduate medical students at the University of Manitoba are eligible. Students may book their own travel and submit receipts and boarding passes for reimbursement of the award amount to the Department of Community Health Sciences.

Criteria

Students are encouraged to explore and develop their projects independently.  There are some resources at UM that may help in this process. Projects that are suitable for consideration for the award are those whose activities and objectives satisfy the following criteria. The experience:

• is located in a low-resource country or low resource  northern/rural/remote community setting in Canada
• offers opportunity for community based learning
• offers opportunities to engage with local community members on health care or health related projects
• is at least two weeks in length

OR

• is a national or international conference to address the health needs of underserved populations

Preference will be given to:

• students who show prior interest and participate in related student interest groups focusing on global, Indigenous, immigrant and refugee or rural health
• students involved in learning opportunities in low resource communities locally or globally
• students who participate in programs that work to increase the community’s capacity to deliver programming or services

Activities

The successful applicant will be matched with a faculty mentor for orientation, pre-departure preparation, access to reading resources, and to refine learning objectives and activities. Attending pre-departure workshops and self-preparation are required.

Students will keep a record of their experiences and activities (e.g. journal, logbook, blog) and a written reflection on their learning objectives during their elective. This will be submitted to faculty mentor for discussion.

Upon return the student will participate in post departure activities including submission of a short report (2,000-2500 words) and deliver a presentation at a venue organized by the program for students and faculty to attend.

Goals

To promote opportunities for students to learn about community engagement, knowledge of health needs, community strengths, and how the determinants of health that impact low resource communities, globally and in Canada.

Learning objectives

Objectives are defined within the context of the proposed elective.  After completion of the elective, the student will be able to:

• discuss the importance of community context in understanding a patient’s and community's health status
• reflect on the determinants of health and how these factors impact the local community
• describe aspects of the history, culture, geography, and socioeconomic factors in the host community that are relevant to the health of the community
• analyze local efforts inside or outside the formal health system used to address health needs and priorities
• examine and make explicit their own beliefs and biases, and practice skills for critical self-awareness
• design approaches to improve communication in a cross cultural setting
• evaluate the impact of one’s own presence and activities in the setting

How to apply

Submit an application form and letter (up to two pages) with a description of the proposed project, sponsoring agency with available website information, preceptor name, location, job, and title and any pertinent information.  Include a brief essay of the applicant’s interest in global or Indigenous health, list of learning objectives, and outline of academic and personal goals to attain.

Application form (PDF)

Please submit all materials to Dr. Sarah Lesperance. 

Self-nomination

This fund is offered to support a student who is actively engaged in supporting undergraduate medical students as member of Manitoba’s medical profession.

This prize is presented to the graduating student who best exhibits student leadership.

Required documentation:

• Self-nominee
• Nominee submits a statement (max. 500 words) describing their accomplishments in the area of student leadership, which may include one or more of the following:
  • How they have nurtured unity of the student body by promoting activities or peer support
  • How they have promoted initiatives that enhance medical student health and wellness,
  • How they have advocated for improved access to or raising awareness of significant health issues, and/or
  • How they have contributed to the professional and political bodies that have a positive impact on student life, such as the MMSA, the CFMS or the like
• Candidates may be required to participate in a panel interview if necessary

Self-nomination

The purpose of this fund is to encourage interest in, and to recognize excellence in, the study of infectious disease.

The award is presented to the graduating student, who:

• has demonstrated a commitment to the field of infectious diseases
• is judged by the selection committee to have future potential in this field

Examples of the applicant’s commitment may include, but are not limited to:

• Research and preparation of case reports for review articles (may be B.Sc. Med or non-B.Sc. Med med related research)
• Clinical activities locally, nationally, internationally and/or overseas elective

Required documentation:

• Signed statement/letter describing commitment to the area of infectious diseases to support self-nomination (maximum 500 words)
• Two reference letters from faculty members that are familiar with applicant’s accomplishments in the field of infectious diseases
• One page summary of five most relevant achievements with a brief description of each achievement
• Curriculum vitae

Nominations may come from classmates or faculty

The purpose of this convocation prize is to recognize the academic achievements of graduating students in the Max Rady College of Medicine.

This prize is presented to the graduating student who has demonstrated the most genuine compassion and profound interest in caring for those in need of medical assistance.

Required documentation:

• Classmate or faculty submits a nomination letter with a brief description outlining why nominee is a suitable candidate to receive this award
• Nominee submits letter of suitability (maximum 250 words)
• Curriculum vitae

Classmate or faculty member/instructor

This is an award offered in remembrance of katherine klassen, who was an undergraduate student in the Max Rady College of Medicine (formerly the Faculty of Medicine) from September 2005 to the time of her death, July 14, 2008. This award’s intention is to carry on the legacy of Katherine Klassen, which was to treat every patient with compassion and dignity and to take a patient-centered approach to the provision of care.

• Presented to the graduating student who is recognized by their peers and instructors as having demonstrated a high level of compassion, humanism, and as having modeled a patient-centred approach to care.

Required documentation:

• Classmate or faculty submits a nomination letter outlining why nominee is a suitable candidate to receive this award
• Nominee submits letter of suitability
• Letter of support from non-physician (in addition to nomination letter)
• Curriculum vitae

Self-nomination, classmate, or faculty

This is an award in memory of Lukasz Czarnecki. Luke was a medical student in the Faculty of Medicine when he died in a tragic accident in 2003. He was an inspiring physician who brought commitment, compassion, integrity and an understanding towards the needs of others.

This award is presented to the graduating student who:

• Has been ranked highly during the internal medicine selection process
• Has shown commitment to the service of others through compassion, integrity and understanding towards their needs
• Enrolls full-time in the next academic session in PGME, Internal Medicine at the University of Manitoba

Required documentation:

• Self-nominee, classmate or faculty submits a statement describing why nominee is a suitable candidate to receive this award (250 words maximum)
• Nominee provides statement (400 words maximum) describing service to others that includes examples of leadership qualities
• Two reference letters from faculty that are familiar with nominee’s accomplishments
• One page summary of five most relevant achievements with a brief description of each achievement
• Curriculum vitae

Self-nomination or classmate

This convocation prize is presented to a graduating student who best demonstrates the qualities of humanity, personal discipline, keen curiosity, scientific inquiry, social responsibility, and good citizenship, which enhance a career in medicine and advance the health of the community.

Required documentation:

• Self-nominee or classmate submits nomination letter explaining how nominee meets the qualities listed above
• Nominee submits letter of suitability (maximum 500 words)
• Curriculum vitae

Self-nomination, classmate or faculty

This fund is offered to support the work of the Human Values Program of the Max Rady College of Medicine at the University of Manitoba. The aim of this program is to promote the attitudes and skills necessary for the practice of total patient care including the promotion of health and well-being to undergraduate, graduate and practicing physicians in Manitoba.

This prize is presented to the graduating student who best exhibit the traits inherent in the Mission Statement and goals of the Human Values Program:

a) Demonstrates an understanding of, and leadership in, total patient well-being including;

• The doctor-patient relationship as well as a physician’s responsibility to society as a whole
• The ethical and legal aspects of practicing good clinical medicine
• The non-biomedical issues that affect quality of patient care
• That the physician is a member of a team relieving illness and promoting health
• The broader organizational, economic, cultural and political issues which influence individual ethical decisions

b) Has demonstrated a good understanding and use of psychosocial skills

Required documentation:

• Self-nominee, classmate or faculty submits nomination letter
• Nominee submits letter of suitability
• Two reference letters - one from faculty, one from non-physician
• One page summary of five most relevant achievements with a brief description of each one
• Curriculum vitae

Self-nomination

This fund is offered to reward graduating students in the undergraduate medical education program who have demonstrated excellence in patient care and leadership.

This prize is presented to the graduating student who best exhibits:

• Demonstrated excellence in the area of patient care and leadership
• Had prior training and/or a career in an allied health field

Required documentation:

• Self-nominee
• Nominee submits a statement (max. 500 words) describing their prior training and/or career in an allied health field (examples may be nursing, occupational/physical therapist, audiology, etc.), as well as their accomplishments in the area of patient care and leadership
• Letter of support from a clinician supervisor attesting to their excellence in patient care
• Curriculum vitae