The scholarship application is now closed. Applicants will be notified of their status by email by mid-January.
The AOA Bureau of Emerging Leaders DO Day Scholarship Program provides opportunities for osteopathic residents, fellows and new physicians in practice to attend DO Day on Capitol Hill, the osteopathic profession’s largest public policy and advocacy event of the year. DO Day offers unmatched opportunities to hone your leadership skills and raise your voice to educate members of Congress on the issues that matter most to you and your patients.
The program provides scholarships for up to four residents, fellows and new physicians in practice (those within five years of graduating from residency or fellowship program) to participate in DO Day, covering the cost of registration for the event and a travel stipend for up to $1,500. This scholarship program is sponsored in part by the American Osteopathic Information Association.
The BEL scholarship is an ideal opportunity for osteopathic physicians in training and new physicians in practice who want to become more involved in medical advocacy. This includes those who may have some experience locally or in medical school, but have lacked the resources or opportunities to step up to the national stage as a resident, fellow or new physician. This also includes those who do not have firsthand advocacy experience, but who have a desire and passion to help improve our nation’s health care and need a helping hand to take that next step. Applicants must be members of the AOA.
Please note that basic personal information will be blinded from applications prior to evaluation and will only be used for contacting applicants and for evaluation of the program over time.
When submitting your application, you will be asked to provide two short essays. These may be typed directly into the form, or uploaded within a single document.
Essay questions:
Read what previous scholarship winners have to say about their DO Day experiences and why advocacy matters to them.
Suk-Lin Zhou, DO
“This scholarship taught me the importance of advocating for my profession. I am proud to be a DO and to be part of such a wonderful community that is both supportive and passionate about advocating for positive changes in our practice and how we can better care for our patients.”
Tony Huynh, DO
“DO Day and the BEL DO Day 2024 Scholarship were such exciting and educational opportunities for me as a resident physician. The experience of speaking directly with legislators and their teams was truly insightful. I learned more about how I can utilize my role and expertise in advocacy for my patients and fellow osteopathic physicians. I thank the scholarship program for granting me the ability to attend such a memorable event.”