A New Way to Invest in Arkansas’ Future Pediatricians
If you trained in the UAMS College of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, you know how much a single mentor, a well-timed piece of advice, or a little financial breathing room can shape a career. A group of UAMS College of Medicine alumni has created a new way to pay it forward.
UAMS has launched the Pediatrics Scholarship Initiative, a first-of-its-kind scholarship for the College of Medicine designed specifically to support students at a pivotal moment: the transition from medical school into pediatric residency.
The scholarship was the vision of four pediatricians who know firsthand what that transition looks like — Bill Steinbach, M.D., Chair of the UAMS Department of Pediatrics, and UAMS Emeritus Professors Michele Moss, M.D., Rhonda Dick, M.D.’81, and Richard Jacobs, M.D.’77. Their goal was simple but ambitious: build a scholarship that the Department of Pediatrics and pediatricians across Arkansas would be proud to stand behind, creating a shared investment in the physicians who will care for the state’s children for decades to come.
(l to r) Bill Steinbach, M.D., Chair of the UAMS Department of Pediatrics, and Emeritus Professors Michele Moss, M.D., Rhonda Dick, M.D. ’81, and Richard Jacobs, M.D.’77
How It Works
The PEDS Scholarship initiative is designed to initially provide a $5,000 award to a qualified fourth-year UAMS medical student interested in pursuing pediatrics or a pediatric subspecialty.
As the fund grows with the help of philanthropic support, the scholarship amount will substantially increase.
The recipient may receive an additional $5,000 award or more depending on available funds after matching with and entering the UAMS Pediatrics Residency Program at Arkansas Children’s.
The number and amount of awards will depend on available funding and may grow as the fund expands.
The scholarship also extends beyond financial assistance. Each year, the recipient will be introduced to successful pediatricians, helping the student build a network of mentorship, encouragement, and professional support. These relationships can guide students as they enter residency, develop their careers and become leaders in pediatric medicine.
Why It Matters
Medical education keeps getting more expensive, and that cost can steer talented students away from pediatrics. This scholarship is designed to ease the financial burden so more graduates choose to become the pediatricians Arkansas needs, and choose to stay and lead here.
How Alumni Can Help
Supporters can contribute in the way that fits them best:
Principal gifts grow the endowed fund, creating a permanent, self-sustaining source of scholarship support through annual investment earnings.
Spendable gifts go directly to scholarship funding now, helping a student today.
Many donors choose to combine both — supporting a current student while building a lasting legacy for the classes that follow.
