Five SOM Students Awarded AMSNY Diversity in Medicine Scholarships
Scholarship Recipients Commit to Work in Underserved Areas of New York Once They Receive Medical Degrees
This year marked a milestone for New York Medical College (NYMC) with a record number of School of Medicine (SOM) students awarded Diversity in Medicine Scholarships by the Associated Medical Schools of New York (AMSNY). The scholarships of up to $45,000 aim to increase the number of diverse physicians practicing in underserved areas in New York State and decrease medical student debt load. The five SOM students – Juliet Manu, SOM Class of 2026; Atikul Miah, SOM Class of 2028; Kelsey Murray, SOM Class of 2027; Yeashin Nur, SOM Class of 2028; and Alexa Rendon, SOM Class of 2026 – each committed to working in an under-resourced area of New York after receiving their medical degrees.
“The lack of education within my family and community revealed to me the importance of representation within medicine as I witnessed health care disparities firsthand,” says Nur, who grew up in Brooklyn where his parents settled after immigrating from Bangladesh. “My passion for medicine was further fueled as an EMT across New York City. Observing the impact of socioeconomic factors on patient health outcomes illustrated the importance of the role of a physician as an advocate. I hope to use my experience from medical school to further my understanding of healthcare and one day address these disparities in the communities of NYC.”
“My interest in healthcare began when I helped my mother navigate the medical system as her translator,” says Miah, who attended the Accelerated Masters Program at NYMC. “This experience sparked my passion for medicine.”
Prior to entering medical school all the recipients also participated in an AMSNY post-baccalaureate program which enhances recruitment of groups underrepresented in medicine by providing them with the foundational knowledge to prepare them for the rigors of medical school
“While pursuing a master's degree with NYMC in biomedical sciences, I was introduced to the NYMC linkage program and the AMSNY scholarship,” says Rendon, who plans to specialize in otolaryngology or anesthesiology. “I can pursue a career that I have always wanted to without as much of a financial burden, which has influenced what kind of residency I choose to pursue compared to medical students with thousands of dollars in loans that choose a specialty for the paycheck rather than the passion.”
“Education was something that my parents couldn't have, yet they understood the value of it in our society,” says Nur. “The AMSNY post-baccalaureate/master’s program provided guidance that allowed me to change the future for my family and this scholarship has given me the freedom to focus on my education and go on to serve the communities that raised me.”
