October 4, 2023

Woll Scholarships available for int’l education experiences

Global REACH this month is accepting applications for Woll Scholarships supporting student international electives in low- and middle-income country settings.

Bela Parekh in Ghana
UMMS student Bela Parekh in Ghana on a Woll Scholarship-funded experience.

Established with the generous support of Drs. Douglas and Margo Yellin Woll, the awards provide up to $2,500 in support of clinical electives that include a scholarly component. Applications will be accepted until Nov. 6, 2023 for students planning travel in the winter or spring of 2024.

Since their introduction in 2015, Woll Scholarships have supported 20 student experiences at partner institutions in Brazil, Uganda, Ethiopia and elsewhere. Recent recipients have conducted research around the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in Kenya, the mental health of Ob-Gyn providers in Ghana, and quality improvement around family planning in Ethiopia.

“The experience had a profound impact on the way I perceive health disparities,” said Bela Parekh, who visited Ghana’s Korle Bu Teaching Hospital on a Woll Scholarship this year. “Witnessing the challenges faced by providers in an under-resourced setting shed light on immense disparities in healthcare access, resources and training.”

Woll Scholarship applications are open twice a year. The next window will be in the spring of 2024 for experiences planned for the following summer and fall.