Scholarships

As family medicine educators, we nurture and guide the intellectual curiosity of our medical students in the MSU College of Human Medicine. We stand beside them as they hone their research questions, collect data, and analyze results. Now it is time to support them as they take their next vital step; sharing their findings with the wider community.

Although there are national venues for student research presentations, the financial barrier can be insurmountable. Airline tickets, registration, food, and lodging easily reach $2,000 for student participation in a national conference.

A generous gift has been offered by Terrie and Henry Barry, MD; and they have issued a challenge to MSU Family Medicine friends and colleagues throughout our community campuses. Over a five-year period the Barrys’ will make a lead donation each year that will be more than adequate to send one of our students to a national conference.

They challenge their colleagues to join in developing the Department of Family Medicine Fund for Student Scholars, a vibrant, renewable fund that can provide such awards for other interested students. For each $1,000 donated by you, their colleagues in family medicine, the Barrys will contribute an additional $100 to the fund (to a total of 25 donors). The target is $30,000 in funding annually for direct support for students interested in family medicine.

or contact Bethany Ford at 517-884-0454

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Scholarships

In 1975, a graduate assistant named Blake W.H. Smith became the second employee in the newly formed Department of Family Medicine. Dr. Smith was to devote his next 24 years to ensuring that the family medicine faculty and staff developed the academic skill base necessary to become one of the pre-eminent family medicine departments in the country. Over time, he earned a doctorate in administration and higher education and moved into the positions of clerkship coordinator, associate chair for Academic Affairs, and senior academic specialist.

Smith’s wide-ranging interests included provision of health care in underserved areas, primary care in developing nations, development of strong clerkships in family practice and in community medicine, and development of a strong research component in the department’s academic activity. His premature death in August 1998 grieved his colleagues, yet his legacy included development of a family practice faculty well grounded in the rigors of academic life and with a social vision that extends beyond the walls of the university.

In memory of Dr. Smith, and to ensure that the goals that were close to his heart can continue to be achieved, a special fund in the name of Blake W.H. Smith, PhD, has been established.

The Blake W.H. Smith, PhD, Scholarship provides a stipend of at least $1,000.00 for a CHM student, resident, or faculty member (academic/clinical/volunteer) engaged in furthering the goals of primary health care, or community-oriented medical education with an emphasis on international settings or under-served areas and populations in the United States. Preference will be given to individuals who are not doing a project in their home country.

Scholarship Applications

Blake Smith Scholarship Application (Student)

Blake Smith Scholarship Application (Faculty_Resident)

For more information, contact:

Joy Hull
Phone: (517)884-0424
E-mail: hullam@msu.edu

Call for Proposals, 2025

Graduate student & faculty awards supporting research, education, and service activities in gerontology-related programs at Michigan State University.

Award Applicant Info Link | Applicant Data Sheet Link

The Pearl J. Aldrich Endowment in Gerontology was created through an estate gift by Pearl Jackson Aldrich, PhD, who passed away in 1997. Dr. Aldrich was a long-standing faculty member who devoted nearly 36 years to MSU’s Department of Family Ecology before retiring as a professor and associate dean for research in 1978.

Dr. Aldrich earned her bachelors and masters degrees from Purdue University and her PhD in nutrition from Iowa State College. She became the head of the Food Services Laboratory at the Michigan State College (University) and published numerous journal articles in the area of food research. During her lifetime, Dr. Aldrich was especially committed to encouraging interdisciplinary approaches to discovering new knowledge in the field of gerontology and/or applying such knowledge to improve the lives of older adults.

Dr. Aldrich established this fund in 1989 in appreciation for the assistance and opportunities made available to her in pursuing educational challenges throughout her own professional career.

The Pearl Aldrich Graduate Student and Faculty Research Awards are funded by the Pearl J. Aldrich Endowment in Aging Related Research and Education. These one-year awards are competitive and intended to support Michigan State University graduate students and faculty who are committed to or strongly considering a career in a discipline that relates to aging. Awards may be used to support new research initiatives or ongoing projects that have a clearly identifiable focus that relates to gerontology or geriatric medicine.

Criteria to be Considered in Selection of Graduate Student Awardees

Importance of the research area to advancing the field of gerontology or geriatric medicine
Quality and feasibility of the research project
Evidence of the investigator’s commitment to the project
Evidence of the investigator’s commitment to a career in a discipline that relates to aging
Evidence of research mentorship and mentor commitment to the applicant’s professional development as an aging scholar
Extent of the mentor’s ability to facilitate the completion of the research project and the applicant’s development of research skill.

Criteria to be Considered in Selection of Faculty Awardees

Importance of the research area to advancing the field of gerontology or geriatric medicine
Quality and feasibility of the research project
Evidence of the investigator’s commitment to the project
Intercollegiate, collaborative, or interdisciplinary research activity
Nature and extent of involvement of investigator in prior aging research activities
Evidence of the investigator’s commitment to academic and professional development in gerontology or geriatric medicine
Probability of future external funding to continue research endeavors.

Graduate Student Applicant Eligibility

All Michigan State University graduate students enrolled full-time at MSU (e.g., Masters and Doctoral degree students/candidates), medical students enrolled at MSU, and residents/fellows in training programs affiliated with MSU.
Each applicant must identify a faculty mentor (not necessarily a gerontologist) who is preferably within their program.
Priority will be given to applicants who show demonstrated scholarship potential and a commitment to a career in an aging discipline.

Faculty Applicant Eligibility

All Michigan State University faculty are eligible except for current members of the Pearl J. Aldrich Endowment Advisory Committee. This category applies to salaried or volunteer employees of Michigan State University or its affiliated institutions holding a prefixed or non-prefixed academic rank of assistant, associate, or full professor. Community-based faculty with an MSU appointment are eligible to apply. Research specialists employed by MSU are not eligible.

The Research Project

The project proposal should address a research question that has unambiguous relevance to the field of gerontology, the study of the aging processes and individuals as they grow from middle age through later life, or geriatrics, a medical subspecialty devoted to the comprehensive health care of older persons and the well-being of their caregivers. Quantitative and qualitative research proposals may be submitted that utilize descriptive, correlational, experimental, and quasi-experimental study designs. Intercollegiate, collaborative, and interdisciplinary research proposals are given special consideration, as are applications that have a strong likelihood of obtaining future extramural funding. The scope of the project should be appropriate for completion in one-year as carry-over funding is not available for this award. Re-submissions of previously funded Aldrich proposals are permitted, to complete unfinished work, however re-submitted proposals are not necessarily given a higher priority for funding.

Research Project Funding

Due to several limitations on the use of award funds as described below, it is strongly recommended that a draft or final budget be forwarded to the Endowment Advisory Committee Chairperson well in advance of the proposal submission deadline for review and revision, should non-covered costs be identified. For faculty, grant awards up to $20,000 may be requested. For graduate students, grant awards up to $3,000 may be requested. The funding cycle for all award recipients will commence on July 1 and end on June 30 of each calendar year. Funding may be used to carry out most aspects of the project as disclosed in the proposal, such as securing professional services, hiring personnel (whose only role is to support some aspect of the project); purchasing computer software, supplies and equipment; consulting with a statistician; travelling to sites to collect data; travelling to national professional meetings for the purpose of disseminating research findings; and other study related costs, but may not be used to support salaries and benefits for full-year MSU employed faculty applicants (as defined above) or graduate student project mentors.

MSU policies also prohibit the use of award funds for the following purposes:

Support of graduate assistantships.
Hiring of graduate students (as defined above in the graduate student applicant eligibility section) by the principle investigator to perform study related work.
Course teaching “buyouts”
Use of means that are potentially coercive to recruit study subjects, including incentive payments to designated recruiters of study subjects.
Incentive payments to study subjects who live outside of the United States, its territories, and protectorates.
Attendance at multiple conferences to present research findings or payment of conference fees for multiple study collaborators, unless a detailed explanation is provided in the budget justification
Parking reimbursement is ineligible
Participant Incentives need to be a meaningful amount and ideally under a 100 participants

Undergraduate students and MSU staff persons may be hired to perform work, with exception of graduate students. MSU faculty who plan to hire MSU employed research assistants must cover their hourly rate and fringe benefits in their budget. Travel expenses must strictly adhere to MSU policies and guidelines (see https://travel.msu.edu/ for details). Personal computers/printers are considered general office equipment and are not allowed unless a convincing case can be made to show that they are used directly in the conduct of the research. Michigan State University retains title to all special purpose equipment – except computer software – purchased using award funds; when no longer needed for the conduct of the research project, the principle investigator will relinquish their right of possession and release the equipment for disposition by Michigan State University. Carry-over of funds beyond June 30 is not permitted under any circumstances.

Selection Process

Each application (due by 11:59 PM on June 5, 2024) will be initially reviewed by two members of the Advisory Committee who disclose no conflicts of interest with the investigator(s). Applications deemed complete will be presented by the primary reviewer during the Advisory Committee Meeting in May for additional review and discussion. Content experts may be called upon to assist Committee Members in the review process, as appropriate. Those applicants selected as awardees will be notified by end of June, with awards effective July 1.

Contact Information

All questions regarding the Pearl Aldrich Graduate Student and Faculty Research Awards may be directed to Dr. Raza Haque, Advisory Committee Chairperson, 517-884-0450.

TIP Application Form

The Integrated Medical School and Family Medicine Residency (TIP) Program is for medical students at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (CHM) who:

Currently are in their third year of medical school and are interested in a career in family medicine.
Are looking for additional training and experience in leadership, scholarship or community outreach/public health.
Have a strong interest in completing residency training at in one of the participating CHM Family Medicine Residency programs.
Are looking for an experience that will ease the transition into residency and will allow them to participate in residency experiences as fourth year students.
Would benefit from a $20,000 scholarship.

The CHM Integrated Medical School and Family Medicine Residency Program (TIP) is a transitional fourth year medical school experience that continues into residency. TIP is not an early decision residency program and does not guarantee the student a residency position. Rather, TIP helps support the student’s interest in family medicine and integration into a family medicine residency program. Successful participation in TIP should make the student an excellent candidate for residency training in family medicine. If the student progresses well in TIP, he or she can anticipate that the residency program will rank the student highly and training at that program will be an option.

How does the program work?

MSU CHM Medical students apply in the middle of their third year of medical school.

Each student is awarded a $20,000 scholarship with $5,000 applied to their student loans in December of their fourth year of medical school and following a residency match at the TIP residency program and successful graduation from CHM, the student receives a $15,000 award. This final award may be used as the student desires.

The Curriculum includes the following:

At least one family medicine sub-internship (FM620) within the TIP residency program.
Longitudinal ½ day per week continuity clinic at residency site when fourth year schedule allows
Attend residency program didactics when fourth year schedule allows
Mentorship with a faculty and resident in the program
Required 4 week elective rotation, in the TIP community

Focused Areas of Excellence

A TIP student must choose one of three areas for additional study during the four years of this program. These areas include:

Leadership—designed for students interested in advocacy, politics or health policy working with leaders in Family Medicine at the local or state, national or international level.

Scholarship—designed for students interested in academics, residency leadership, curriculum development, or research.

Community Outreach/Public Health—designed for students interested in public health, service, or advocacy, interfacing with local departments of public health.

Senior Medical Student Project

The student will complete an initial project related to the chosen Focus Area before the end of medical school. This can be an oral or written presentation or poster and can be delivered to the Program Director or a larger group (residents, clinic staff, or research conference).

Participating residency programs

Family Medicine Residency Program, MidMichigan Medical Center – Midland, Midland, Michigan

Marquette Family Medicine Residency Program, Marquette, Michigan

MSU/MidMichigan Medical Center – Gratiot Family Medicine Residency Program, Alma, Michigan

Providence Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program, Southfield, Michigan

Sparrow/Michigan State University Family Medicine Residency Program, Lansing, Michigan

TIP FAQs for Medical Students

Does this program shorten the residency experience? No
Can I apply to a program in a community other than the community I have been in for my third year? Yes.
Can I apply to participate in TIP at multiple communities? Yes, up to three. Once accepted, you will have to choose one.
Will all of the positions be filled? Only if there is an excellent fit for both student and program. It is possible that no positions will be filled and it is possible that all of them will be.
My fourth year schedule is already pretty organized. Will that have to change if I get into this program? Most likely. You will need to work closely with the residency program director and the community assistant dean’s office to organize your fourth year. You will have to meet all your medical school requirements, complete at least one sub-internship within your community before October, organize your continuity clinic with the residency, spend some time studying for your Step II exams, and will begin working on structuring your focused area of excellence and completing a project.
Can I apply to this program even though I may not have done my third year required Family Medicine clerkship? Yes.
How will my application be reviewed? Your application will be reviewed by the Residency Program Directors of the participating residencies according to the same criteria they would use to evaluate a student applying for residency there. Your application will be reviewed with respect to how good a fit you will be for the goals of this program and your commitment to the community and the discipline of Family Medicine.
Do I still have to go through the residency match process? Yes

Application Requirements

Completion of TIP Application
Original Medical school application (We will obtain this from student affairs)
MSU CHM transcript (We will obtain this from student affairs)
Personal statement explaining why the student wants to pursue TIP (two pages, double spaced, sent to Harland Holman)
Three letters of recommendation; at least one from the Family Medicine Clerkship, if student has completed it. These should be addressed to Dr. Holman and copied to Karla Cody.

Harland Holman, MD

Spectrum Health FM Residency Clinic

25 Michigan St NE Ste 5100

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Karla Cody

Department of Family Medicine
788 Service Rd
B104 Clinical Center
East Lansing, MI 48824

Timeline

March 1: Application Deadline (including all letters received)

March 20: Invitations to Interview

April 20: Interviews Completed

May 5: Students Informed of Acceptance

May 20: Students notify program director of decision

July 1: Program Begins

For more information, contact:

Harland Holman, MD

Spectrum Health FM Residency Clinic

25 Michigan St NE Ste 5100

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Past Participants in TIP

The 2024-2025 TIP program awardees were: Lindsay Sandell, UPMarquette – UP program, Kelsey Bean, MSU/Sparrow program, Robert Dubisky, Marquette – UP program, Mary Hale, Providence – SE program, Njeru Mbirianjau, MSU/Sparrow program, Sydney Rechner, Marquette – UP program.

The 2022-2023 TIP program awardees were: David Storck will be entering the Providence – SE program, Kyle Silva will be entering the MSU/Sparrow program, Shelby Peters will be entering the Marquette – UP program, and Yer Yang will be entering the MSU/Sparrow program.

The 2020-2021 TIP program awardees were: Paul Edlebeck will be entering the Mid Michigan Midland, Cassandra LaMarche will be entering the Providence – SE program, Khyllian Lowry will be entering the Mid Michigan Gratiot program, Elisabeth Milligan will be entering the Mid Michigan Midland program, Erin McKenzie will be entering the Marquette – UP program, Sarah Naracon will be entering the Marquette – UP program, Deja Rice will be entering the MSU/Sparrow program, and Trevor Sexton will be entering the Mid Michigan Midland program.

The 2019-2020 TIP program awardees were: Stephany Zahl will be entering the Mercy Health Grand Rapids program, Elizabeth Tuma will be entering the UP Health Systems Marquette program, Abigail Gizinski will be entering the MSU/MidMichigan Medical Center Midland program, Chelsea Pote will be entering the Sparrow/MSU Lansing program, Katie Hartman will be entering the Ascension Providence Family Medicine Residency.

The 2018-2019 TIP program awardees were: Julia Buck, Miguel Joaquin, and John Jansen will be entering the Mercy Health Grand Rapids program, Dustin Collins and Valerie Taglione will be entering the UP Health Systems Marquette program, Vanessa LaRouche will be entering the MSU/MidMichigan Medical Center Gratiot program, Lauren Buhr will be entering the Sparrow/MSU Lansing program.

Two student were in the 2017-2018 TIP Program: Trent Mazer and Ellen Moore both entered the Grand Rapids program.

Five students for the 2016-2017 TIP program: Tarajo Reinhart and Jeffery Sweers are entering the Grand Rapids program; Sarah Robbins is entering the Sparrow/MSU program; and Dan Drake and Nicole Zimmer are entering the Midland program.

Eight students for the 2015-2016 TIP program: Jana Baatenburg, Lara Baatenburg and Emily Schipper are entering the Grand Rapids program; Adam Butcher, James Sawyer, Williams Barker, and Riley Torreano are entering the Marquette program; and Veronica Arbuckle-Bernstein is entering the Sparrow/MSU Program.

Two medical students for the 2014-2015 TIP program; Jan Liu entering the Sparrow/MSU program in Lansing, and Stephanie Rutterbush entering the Marquette program.

The 2013-2014 TIP students were Jamie Kantola entering the Sparrow/MSU program in Lansing; Mitch Sydloski and Jarrad Utter entering the Grand Rapids program, and Ivy Vachon and Samantha Cummings entering the Marquette program.

The 2012-2013 TIP students were Tiffany Burns, entering the Sparrow/MSU program in Lansing; and Tyler Barreto and David Charles Henderson, entering the Grand Rapids program.

The 2011-2012 TIP students were Farhan Bhatti and Abigail Urish, entering the Sparrow program; Sarah Rodriguez, entering the Grand Rapids program; and Christine Medaugh, entering the program in Midland.

The first cohort of TIP students (2010-2011) included Tom Massie, Michelle Riccio, and Tim Labonte, all of the Upper Peninsula campus; Lindy Babcock, Grand Rapids; and Hershey Jayasuriya, Lansing.

In 1975, a graduate assistant named Blake W.H. Smith became the second employee in the newly formed Department of Family Medicine. Dr. Smith was to devote his next 24 years to ensuring that the family medicine faculty and staff developed the academic skill base necessary to become one of the pre-eminent family medicine departments in the country. Over time, he earned a doctorate in administration and higher education and moved into the positions of clerkship coordinator, associate chair for Academic Affairs, and senior academic specialist.

Smith’s wide-ranging interests included provision of health care in underserved areas, primary care in developing nations, development of strong clerkships in family practice and in community medicine, and development of a strong research component in the department’s academic activity. His premature death in August 1998 grieved his colleagues, yet his legacy included development of a family practice faculty well grounded in the rigors of academic life and with a social vision that extends beyond the walls of the university.

In memory of Dr. Smith, and to ensure that the goals that were close to his heart can continue to be achieved, a special fund in the name of Blake W.H. Smith, PhD, has been established.

The Blake W.H. Smith, PhD, Scholarship provides a stipend of at least $1,000.00 for a CHM student, resident, or faculty member (academic/clinical/volunteer) engaged in furthering the goals of primary health care, or community-oriented medical education with an emphasis on international settings or under-served areas and populations in the United States. Preference will be given to individuals who are not doing a project in their home country.

Scholarship Applications

Blake Smith Scholarship Application (Student)

Blake Smith Scholarship Application (Faculty_Resident)

For more information, contact:

Joy Hull
Phone: (517)884-0424
E-mail: hullam@msu.edu

Call for Proposals, 2025

Graduate student & faculty awards supporting research, education, and service activities in gerontology-related programs at Michigan State University.

Award Applicant Info Link | Applicant Data Sheet Link

The Pearl J. Aldrich Endowment in Gerontology was created through an estate gift by Pearl Jackson Aldrich, PhD, who passed away in 1997. Dr. Aldrich was a long-standing faculty member who devoted nearly 36 years to MSU’s Department of Family Ecology before retiring as a professor and associate dean for research in 1978.

Dr. Aldrich earned her bachelors and masters degrees from Purdue University and her PhD in nutrition from Iowa State College. She became the head of the Food Services Laboratory at the Michigan State College (University) and published numerous journal articles in the area of food research. During her lifetime, Dr. Aldrich was especially committed to encouraging interdisciplinary approaches to discovering new knowledge in the field of gerontology and/or applying such knowledge to improve the lives of older adults.

Dr. Aldrich established this fund in 1989 in appreciation for the assistance and opportunities made available to her in pursuing educational challenges throughout her own professional career.

The Pearl Aldrich Graduate Student and Faculty Research Awards are funded by the Pearl J. Aldrich Endowment in Aging Related Research and Education. These one-year awards are competitive and intended to support Michigan State University graduate students and faculty who are committed to or strongly considering a career in a discipline that relates to aging. Awards may be used to support new research initiatives or ongoing projects that have a clearly identifiable focus that relates to gerontology or geriatric medicine.

Criteria to be Considered in Selection of Graduate Student Awardees

Importance of the research area to advancing the field of gerontology or geriatric medicine
Quality and feasibility of the research project
Evidence of the investigator’s commitment to the project
Evidence of the investigator’s commitment to a career in a discipline that relates to aging
Evidence of research mentorship and mentor commitment to the applicant’s professional development as an aging scholar
Extent of the mentor’s ability to facilitate the completion of the research project and the applicant’s development of research skill.

Criteria to be Considered in Selection of Faculty Awardees

Importance of the research area to advancing the field of gerontology or geriatric medicine
Quality and feasibility of the research project
Evidence of the investigator’s commitment to the project
Intercollegiate, collaborative, or interdisciplinary research activity
Nature and extent of involvement of investigator in prior aging research activities
Evidence of the investigator’s commitment to academic and professional development in gerontology or geriatric medicine
Probability of future external funding to continue research endeavors.

Graduate Student Applicant Eligibility

All Michigan State University graduate students enrolled full-time at MSU (e.g., Masters and Doctoral degree students/candidates), medical students enrolled at MSU, and residents/fellows in training programs affiliated with MSU.
Each applicant must identify a faculty mentor (not necessarily a gerontologist) who is preferably within their program.
Priority will be given to applicants who show demonstrated scholarship potential and a commitment to a career in an aging discipline.

Faculty Applicant Eligibility

All Michigan State University faculty are eligible except for current members of the Pearl J. Aldrich Endowment Advisory Committee. This category applies to salaried or volunteer employees of Michigan State University or its affiliated institutions holding a prefixed or non-prefixed academic rank of assistant, associate, or full professor. Community-based faculty with an MSU appointment are eligible to apply. Research specialists employed by MSU are not eligible.

The Research Project

The project proposal should address a research question that has unambiguous relevance to the field of gerontology, the study of the aging processes and individuals as they grow from middle age through later life, or geriatrics, a medical subspecialty devoted to the comprehensive health care of older persons and the well-being of their caregivers. Quantitative and qualitative research proposals may be submitted that utilize descriptive, correlational, experimental, and quasi-experimental study designs. Intercollegiate, collaborative, and interdisciplinary research proposals are given special consideration, as are applications that have a strong likelihood of obtaining future extramural funding. The scope of the project should be appropriate for completion in one-year as carry-over funding is not available for this award. Re-submissions of previously funded Aldrich proposals are permitted, to complete unfinished work, however re-submitted proposals are not necessarily given a higher priority for funding.

Research Project Funding

Due to several limitations on the use of award funds as described below, it is strongly recommended that a draft or final budget be forwarded to the Endowment Advisory Committee Chairperson well in advance of the proposal submission deadline for review and revision, should non-covered costs be identified. For faculty, grant awards up to $20,000 may be requested. For graduate students, grant awards up to $3,000 may be requested. The funding cycle for all award recipients will commence on July 1 and end on June 30 of each calendar year. Funding may be used to carry out most aspects of the project as disclosed in the proposal, such as securing professional services, hiring personnel (whose only role is to support some aspect of the project); purchasing computer software, supplies and equipment; consulting with a statistician; travelling to sites to collect data; travelling to national professional meetings for the purpose of disseminating research findings; and other study related costs, but may not be used to support salaries and benefits for full-year MSU employed faculty applicants (as defined above) or graduate student project mentors.

MSU policies also prohibit the use of award funds for the following purposes:

Support of graduate assistantships.
Hiring of graduate students (as defined above in the graduate student applicant eligibility section) by the principle investigator to perform study related work.
Course teaching “buyouts”
Use of means that are potentially coercive to recruit study subjects, including incentive payments to designated recruiters of study subjects.
Incentive payments to study subjects who live outside of the United States, its territories, and protectorates.
Attendance at multiple conferences to present research findings or payment of conference fees for multiple study collaborators, unless a detailed explanation is provided in the budget justification
Parking reimbursement is ineligible
Participant Incentives need to be a meaningful amount and ideally under a 100 participants

Undergraduate students and MSU staff persons may be hired to perform work, with exception of graduate students. MSU faculty who plan to hire MSU employed research assistants must cover their hourly rate and fringe benefits in their budget. Travel expenses must strictly adhere to MSU policies and guidelines (see https://travel.msu.edu/ for details). Personal computers/printers are considered general office equipment and are not allowed unless a convincing case can be made to show that they are used directly in the conduct of the research. Michigan State University retains title to all special purpose equipment – except computer software – purchased using award funds; when no longer needed for the conduct of the research project, the principle investigator will relinquish their right of possession and release the equipment for disposition by Michigan State University. Carry-over of funds beyond June 30 is not permitted under any circumstances.

Selection Process

Each application (due by 11:59 PM on June 5, 2024) will be initially reviewed by two members of the Advisory Committee who disclose no conflicts of interest with the investigator(s). Applications deemed complete will be presented by the primary reviewer during the Advisory Committee Meeting in May for additional review and discussion. Content experts may be called upon to assist Committee Members in the review process, as appropriate. Those applicants selected as awardees will be notified by end of June, with awards effective July 1.

Contact Information

All questions regarding the Pearl Aldrich Graduate Student and Faculty Research Awards may be directed to Dr. Raza Haque, Advisory Committee Chairperson, 517-884-0450.

TIP Application Form

The Integrated Medical School and Family Medicine Residency (TIP) Program is for medical students at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (CHM) who:

Currently are in their third year of medical school and are interested in a career in family medicine.
Are looking for additional training and experience in leadership, scholarship or community outreach/public health.
Have a strong interest in completing residency training at in one of the participating CHM Family Medicine Residency programs.
Are looking for an experience that will ease the transition into residency and will allow them to participate in residency experiences as fourth year students.
Would benefit from a $20,000 scholarship.

The CHM Integrated Medical School and Family Medicine Residency Program (TIP) is a transitional fourth year medical school experience that continues into residency. TIP is not an early decision residency program and does not guarantee the student a residency position. Rather, TIP helps support the student’s interest in family medicine and integration into a family medicine residency program. Successful participation in TIP should make the student an excellent candidate for residency training in family medicine. If the student progresses well in TIP, he or she can anticipate that the residency program will rank the student highly and training at that program will be an option.

How does the program work?

MSU CHM Medical students apply in the middle of their third year of medical school.

Each student is awarded a $20,000 scholarship with $5,000 applied to their student loans in December of their fourth year of medical school and following a residency match at the TIP residency program and successful graduation from CHM, the student receives a $15,000 award. This final award may be used as the student desires.

The Curriculum includes the following:

At least one family medicine sub-internship (FM620) within the TIP residency program.
Longitudinal ½ day per week continuity clinic at residency site when fourth year schedule allows
Attend residency program didactics when fourth year schedule allows
Mentorship with a faculty and resident in the program
Required 4 week elective rotation, in the TIP community

Focused Areas of Excellence

A TIP student must choose one of three areas for additional study during the four years of this program. These areas include:

Leadership—designed for students interested in advocacy, politics or health policy working with leaders in Family Medicine at the local or state, national or international level.

Scholarship—designed for students interested in academics, residency leadership, curriculum development, or research.

Community Outreach/Public Health—designed for students interested in public health, service, or advocacy, interfacing with local departments of public health.

Senior Medical Student Project

The student will complete an initial project related to the chosen Focus Area before the end of medical school. This can be an oral or written presentation or poster and can be delivered to the Program Director or a larger group (residents, clinic staff, or research conference).

Participating residency programs

Family Medicine Residency Program, MidMichigan Medical Center – Midland, Midland, Michigan

Marquette Family Medicine Residency Program, Marquette, Michigan

MSU/MidMichigan Medical Center – Gratiot Family Medicine Residency Program, Alma, Michigan

Providence Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program, Southfield, Michigan

Sparrow/Michigan State University Family Medicine Residency Program, Lansing, Michigan

TIP FAQs for Medical Students

Does this program shorten the residency experience? No
Can I apply to a program in a community other than the community I have been in for my third year? Yes.
Can I apply to participate in TIP at multiple communities? Yes, up to three. Once accepted, you will have to choose one.
Will all of the positions be filled? Only if there is an excellent fit for both student and program. It is possible that no positions will be filled and it is possible that all of them will be.
My fourth year schedule is already pretty organized. Will that have to change if I get into this program? Most likely. You will need to work closely with the residency program director and the community assistant dean’s office to organize your fourth year. You will have to meet all your medical school requirements, complete at least one sub-internship within your community before October, organize your continuity clinic with the residency, spend some time studying for your Step II exams, and will begin working on structuring your focused area of excellence and completing a project.
Can I apply to this program even though I may not have done my third year required Family Medicine clerkship? Yes.
How will my application be reviewed? Your application will be reviewed by the Residency Program Directors of the participating residencies according to the same criteria they would use to evaluate a student applying for residency there. Your application will be reviewed with respect to how good a fit you will be for the goals of this program and your commitment to the community and the discipline of Family Medicine.
Do I still have to go through the residency match process? Yes

Application Requirements

Completion of TIP Application
Original Medical school application (We will obtain this from student affairs)
MSU CHM transcript (We will obtain this from student affairs)
Personal statement explaining why the student wants to pursue TIP (two pages, double spaced, sent to Harland Holman)
Three letters of recommendation; at least one from the Family Medicine Clerkship, if student has completed it. These should be addressed to Dr. Holman and copied to Karla Cody.

Harland Holman, MD

Spectrum Health FM Residency Clinic

25 Michigan St NE Ste 5100

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Karla Cody

Department of Family Medicine
788 Service Rd
B104 Clinical Center
East Lansing, MI 48824